SMITHSONIAN
INSTITUTION
LIBRARIES
Gift of
JAMES H. FRASER
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THE LIBRARY
FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON
UNIVERSITY
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PRESENTED BY
EMMA JOY DANA
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miorbayn- Madison Campus
MadisoU/N.J.
" On the above plate are the marks from Workmen taken at this office ( Goldsmiths' Hall) Prior to
the Fifteenth of April a.d. 1697 of which not any other Entry is to be found."
(vide page 39;
HALL MARKS
ON
GOLD AND SILVER PLATE
This FAC-SIMILE does not contain the whole of the makers' marks
on the copper plate, but only the largest sized punches as therein
arranged, on the first five columns. A Photograph (the size of the
original) containing both large and small stamps, may be obtained (price
Five Shillings) of Me. W. CHAFFERS, No. 19, Fitzroy Square, W.
™° HALL MARKS
/872
HGOLD AND SILVER PLATE,
ILLUSTRATED WITH
TABLES OF ANNUAL DATE LETTERS
EMPLOYED IN THE
2toap lOf&ces of Cngknli, ©cotknli $r Jreknti,
A FAC-SIMILE OF A COPPER-PLATE OF MAKERS' MARKS
AT GOLDSMITHS' HALL,
A PLATE OF FRENCH STANDARD AND ASSAY STAMPS,
BY
WILLIAM CHAFFERS,
AUTHOR OF "MARKS AND MONOGRAMS ON POTTERY AND PORCELAIN," " THE KERAMIC GALLERY,"
"PRICED CATALOGUE OF COINS," "OBJECTS OF INTEREST AT THE LEEDS NATIONAL EXHIBITION
OF WORKS OF ART IN 1868, ILLUSTRATED BY PHOTOGRAPHS," ETC.
FOURTH EDITION,
REVISED AND CONSIDERABLY AUGMENTED.
LONDON :
J. DAVY & SONS, 137, LONG ACRE
ClO.lDCCC.LXXIL
DRYDEN PRESS :
-J. DAVY AND SONS, 137, LONG ACRE,
THE RIGHT OF TRANSLATION RESERVED,
Entered at Stationers'1 Hall.
I
HALL MARKS ON PLATE
FROM THE
Cinrteetttf) to tf)e jBttieteeitt!) Century
TABLE OF STATUTES AND ORDINANCES
REFERRED TO IN THIS BOOK.
A.D.
1238. 22 Henry III. cl. m. 6.
1300. 28 Edward I. c. 20.
1327. Charter 1 Edward III.
1336. Ordinance of the Gold-
smiths' Company.
1363. 37 Edward III. c. 7.
1369. 43 Edward III. cl. m. 35.
1379.. 2 Richard II.
1392. Charter 16 Richard II.
1403. 5 Henry IY. c. 13.
1414. 2 Henry Y. c. 4.
1420. 8 Henry Y. c. 3.
1423. 2 Henry VI. c. 14.
1457. James II. (Scots).
1462. Charter 2 Edward IV.
1473. James III. (Scots).
1477. 17 Edward IV. c. 1.
1483. James III. (Scots).
1488. 4 Henry VII. Pari. 3, c. 2.
1504. Charter 20 Henry VII.
1555. Mary (Scots).
1573. 15 Elizabeth.
1576. 18 Elizabeth, c. 15.
1587. James VI. (Scots).
1597. Goldsmiths' Company Re-
cords.
1638. Charter of Charles I.
(Irish).
1675. Goldsmiths' Order.
A
A.D.
1687. Charter of James VII.
(Scots).
1697. 8 & 9 William III. c. 8.
1698. 9 & 10 William III. c. 28.
1700-1. 12 & 13 William III. c. 4.
1702. 1 Anne, c. 9.
1719. 6 George I. c. 11.
1730. 3 George II. (Irish).
1739. 12 George II. c. 26.
1756. 29 George II. c. 14.
1758. 31 George II. c. 32.
1759. 32 George II. c. 14.
1773. 13 George III. c. 52.
1784. 24 George III.
1785. 25 George III. c. 64.
1790. 30 George III. c. 31.
1797. 37 George III. c. 90.
1798. 38 George III. c. 69.
1803. 43 George III. c. 69.
1804. 44 George III. c. 98.
1807. 47 George III.
1815. 55 George III. c. 185.
1819. 59 George III.
1824. 5 George IV.
1825. 6 George IV.
1836. 6 William IV.
1844. 5 & 6 Vie, c. 47 & c. 56.
1845. 7 & 8 Victoria, c. 22.
1854. 17 & 18 Victoria.
B
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2
THE GOLDSMITHS' COMPANY.
♦
The following account of the Goldsmiths' Company is from a
plate of their arms in the Secretary's office : —
" To the Master, Warden and Wardens with the rest of the
worthy Members of the R* Worsh11 Compy of Goldsmiths.
T B wisheth event of all Felicity and humbly dedicates this plate.
The R* Worsh11 company of Goldsmiths, London, bear for their
Ensigne Armoriall : Quarterly, gules and azure; In the 1st and
4th a Leopard's head Or. In the 2nd and 3rd a Cup covered
between two Buckles of the last. On a helmet a wreath of their
colours ; A denty* Lady her arms extended proper, in the dexter
hand a pair of scales, and in the sinister an ingot as the third.
Supported by two Unicorns, gold. Underneath on an Escrole for
their motto justttia virtutum eegina. Patron St. Dunstan.
" It is to the very great honour of this Company, that severall
persons of eminent worth in Antient and Modern times, have
been inrolled among them (particularly) in the reigne of Henry
the 1st Leofstane goldsmith was Provost of this City. That
Henry Fitz Alwyn Fitz Leofstane goldsmith was Maior of London,
1st of Richard 1st 1189. That Gregory Rokesby goldsmith
continued Maior 7 year together. That Willm Farringdon gold-
smith was Sheriff 9th of Edward 1st 1280. And his son Nicholas
after him Lord Maior 4 times in the reigne of Edwd 2nd 1308.
Besides King Prince Earle Lord and Lord Maiors. They were
incorporated 16th Richard 2nd, 1392. Wm Stonden Lord
Maior; Gilbert Mafield Thos Newington, Sheriffs.
Their Mansion Hall scituate Foster Lane London.
" Printed for T. Bower Painter and are to be sold at his shop at
the King's Head in Budge Bow, London"
Their crest and supporters were granted in 1591.
* Dainty, an old word for fine or elegant, here used for an elegantly dressed
lady.
EXTRACTS FROM STATUTES AND ORDINANCES
REGULATING THE
MANUFACTURE AND STAMPING OF PLATE IN ENGLAND,
WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES.
Gold and Silver in a pure state would be too soft and ductile to
be employed either in the manufacture of vessels for ordinary use,
or for the coinage of the Kealm ; it has accordingly been found
necessary to add a certain proportion of the baser metals to make
them sufficiently hard for the purpose. As this necessity de-
teriorates the value, and as the goldsmith who manufactures them
into vessels must himself introduce the inferior metals, it will be
easily seen that a great means of deception is hereby placed in the
hands of a dishonest worker, which the purchaser would not
(without some difficulty) be able to discover. Hence, from the
earliest times, a certain standard of fineness has been insisted on
by the laws of the land, any departure from which has been visited
with severe penalties.
This introduction of inferior metals is called the allay or alloy,
and is supposed to be derived from a la loi, being the proportion
of silver or copper, or both mixed together, according to the law
regulating the standard. The author of the Touchstone for Gold
and Silver Wares, in 1667, says : " Our forefathers, considering
that silver in its finest degree would be too soft for use and service
(for the finest silver is almost as soft as lead) did consult to reduce
or harden the silver, by alloying it with baser metal, to such a
degree that it might be both serviceable in the works, and also in
the wearing keep in native whiteness/5
The first instance on record of an attempt to reduce goldsmiths'
work to a certain standard, was in the reign of Henry III. a.d. 1238
(Claus. 22, Henry III. m. 6), when, in consequence of the frauds
which had been practised by the gold and silversmiths, it became
necessary to prescribe some regulations for their trade, because
the mixing too much alloy in the composition of these wares
naturally tended to encourage the melting down of the coin of the
realm. It was therefore ordained that no one should use any gold
of which the mark was not worth one hundred shillings at the
least, nor any silver worse than the standard of the coins.
The assay of gold and silver is said to have originated with the
b 2
4
Bishop of Salisbury, Royal Treasurer to Henry L, but some sort
of test was adopted from the earliest times in this country, and
this test was probably by means of the touch: that is, by judging
of the quality of the metal when rubbed on a stone ; this method
is still in use for ordinary purposes, and a practised eye can
immediately detect the quantity of alloy by the shades of colour
of the metal so transferred to the touchstone.
The touchstone is a black stone of a close, fine grain ; the way
it was used is thus described in the Touchstone for Gold and
Silver Wares, a.d. 1667, before quoted : " The way to make a true
touch on the touchstone is this, rub the gold or silver steadily
and very hard upon the stone, not spreading your touch above a
quarter of an inch long, and no broader than the thickness of a
five shilling piece of silver, and so continue rubbing until the
place of the stone whereon you rub be like the metal itself; and
when every sort is rubbed on at the time you intend, wet all the
touched places with your tongue, and it will show itself in its own
countenance."
In another plan for the trial of gold, two sets of touch needles
or bars were used, one set alloyed with copper, and the other with
silver, 24 in each set, according to the 24 carats fineness of gold.
The streak or touch of the piece to be examined was compared
with the streaks made by the needles, being washed with aqua-
fortis, and thus its fineness was determined.
The assaying of the precious metals was a privilege conferred
upon the Goldsmiths' Company by the following statute : —
a.d. 1300. 28 Edward I., c. 20, commonly called Articuli super
cartas. " It is ordained, that no goldsmith of England, nor none
otherwhere within the Kings dominions, shall from henceforth
make or cause to be made any manner of vessel, jewel, or any
other thing of gold or silver, except it be of the true allay, (that
is to say) gold of a certain touch, and silver of the sterling allay,
or of better at the pleasure of him to whom the work belongeth ;
and that none work worse silver than money ; and that no manner
of vessel of silver depart out of the hands of the workers, until it
be assayed by the wardens of the craft ; and further, that it be
marked with the leopard's head; and that they work no worse
gold than of the touch of Paris ; and that the wardens of the craft
shall go from shop to shop among the goldsmiths, to assay, if
their gold be of the same touch that is spoken of before; and if
5
they find any other than of the touch aforesaid, the gold shall be
forfeit to the king :* [and that none shall make rings, crosses,
nor locks :] and that none shall set any stone in gold except it be
natural ; and that gravers or cutters of stones, and of seals, shall
give to each their weight of silver and gold as near as they can
upon their fidelity ; and the jewels of base gold which they have
in their hands, they shall utter as fast as they can ; and from
thenceforth if they buy any of the same work, they shall buy it to
work upon and not to sell again ; and that all the good towns of
England where any goldsmith be dwelling, shall be ordered
according to this statute as they of London be ; and that one
shall come from every good town for all the residue that be
dwelling in the same, unto London for to be ascertained of their
touch. And if any goldsmith be attainted hereafter, because that
he has done otherwise than before is ordained, he shall be punished
by imprisonment, and by ransome at the king's pleasure," &c.
The touch of Paris was referred to in this statute because there
were no English gold coins which could be made a standard for
the goldsmiths' work. The French coins of that time were of fine
gold. The touch of Paris therefore was as celebrated over Europe
as the sterling of England.
a.d. 1327. 1 Edward III., the first Charter to the Goldsmiths'
Company bears date 30th March, and recites the deceits of the
cutlers, in " covering tin with silver so subtilly and with such
sleight, that the same cannot be discerned and severed from the
tin, and by that means they sell the tin so covered for fine silver,"
and empowers the Company to punish such offenders ; and " that
in all cities and towns in England where goldsmiths reside, one
or two of every such city or town, for the rest of that trade shall
come to London to be ascertained of their touch and there to have
a stamp of a puncheon of a Leopard's head, marked upon their
work, as of ancient time it has been ordained."
The Company's Ordinances of the year 1336 enjoin, that none
do work gold unless it be as good as the assay of the mystery; or
in silver, unless as good or better than the king's coin or sterling,
and that when done, it shall be brought to the Hall to be assayed,
and that such as will bear the touch shall be marked " with the
* That portion between brackets relating to rings, crosses and locks,
repealed 21 Jac. 28.
owners and sayers marks, and afterwards be tonched with the
Liberdshede crowned/5
It will be observed here that three distinct marks are spoken
of — 1. The goldsmith's mark, viz., his initials; 2. The assay
mark, probably a letter of the alphabet; and 3. The mark of the
Goldsmiths' Hall, a leopard's head crowned.
a.d. 1363. 37 Edward III. c. 7. "Item, it is accorded that
goldsmiths as well in London as elsewhere within the realm, shall
make all manner of vessels and other work of silver, well and
lawfully of the allay of good sterling; and every master goldsmith
shall have a mark by himself, and the same mark shall be known
by them which shall be assigned by the King to survey their work
and allay; and that the said goldsmiths set not their marks upon
their works, till the said surveyors have made their assay, as shall
be ordained by the King and his council : and after the assay
made, the surveyor shall set the Kings mark, and after the gold-
smith his mark, for which he will answer ; and that no goldsmith
take for vessel white and full for the weight of a pound (that is to
say) of the price of two marks of Paris weight, but eighteen pence
as they do in Paris ;* [and that no goldsmith making white vessel
shall meddle with gilding, nor they that do gild shall meddle to
make white vessel :] and they which shall be so assigned in every
town shall make their searches as oftentimes as shall be ordained ;
and for that which shall be in the goldsmiths default they shall
incur the pain of forfeiture to the King, the value of the metal
which shall be found in default."
The laws which regulated the goldsmith's trade were rigorously
enforced, and we read (CI. 43 Edw. III. m. 35) that William de
Mulsho and John de Newenham, in 1369, were commanded to
examine by the touch, or by other methods, certain vessels of
silver, and belts of gold, which William de Montacute, Earl of
Salisbury, had caused to be made by goldsmiths of London of less
fineness than the ordinance required, and to report the assay to
the King in chancery.
a.d. 1379. 2 Richard II. It was enacted by Parliament that,
whereas the gold and silver worked by English goldsmiths was
oftentimes less fine than it ought to be, because the goldsmiths
were their own assayers, from that time every goldsmith should
* This clause in brackets about gilding was repealed 21st Jac. 18.
have his own proper mark upon his work, and that the assay of
touch should belong to the mayors and governors of cities and
boroughs, with the assistance of the Master of the Mint, if there
should be occasion ; and that the work should bear the mark of the
city or borough where it was assayed. And also that the King
should assign such persons as he should please to make the said
assay, as well in London as elsewhere, as often as should be
necessary ; and after the assay should be made, to stamp the work
with another mark, to be appointed by the King. And it was
agreed that the ordinance should commence from the said feast of
St. John, and continue until the next Parliament, to try whether
it would be advantageous or not.
a.d. 1392. 16 Richard II. AnotheF Charter to the Goldsmiths5
Company bearing date the 6th of February of this year, granted
and gave licence to the men of the said craft of goldsmiths of the
City of London to be a perpetual community or Society of them-
selves, and elect yearly out of themselves four wardens to oversee,
rule, and duly govern the said craft and community.
a.d. 1403. 5 Henry IY^ c. 13. Recites, " That many fraudulent
artificers do daily make locks, &c, of copper and latten, and the
same do over gild and silver like to gold and silver, to the great
deceit, loss and hindrance of the common people, and the wasting
of gold and silver and ordains, " That no artificer, nor other
man, shall gild nor silver any such locks, rings, beads, candlesticks,
harness for girdles (buckles), chalices, hilts nor pommels of swords,
powder boxes nor covers for cups, made of copper or latten, upon
pain to forfeit to the King 100 shillings every time, and to make
satisfaction to the party grieved for his damages ; but that
(chalices always excepted) the said artificers may work ornaments
for the Church of copper and latten, and the same gild or silver,
so that always in the foot or some other part of such ornament
the copper and latten shall be plain, that a man may see whereof
the thing is made, for to eschew the deceit aforesaid."*
a.d. 1405. A contest happened between the Companies of the
Goldsmiths and Cutlers, with regard to certain privileges, claimed
by the former, of inspecting all the gold and silver work made by
* Louis XI. King of France, in an ordinance to the goldsmiths of Tours,
January, 1470, authorizes them to employ only for ecclesiastical utensils, such as
reliquaries, &c, gold and silver of base alloy, which pieces were to be inscribed
" non venundetur^ to certify that they were not destined for commerce.
the latter. At length the goldsmiths appealed to the Parliament,
and by the authority of the King, the affair was referred to the
Lord Mayor of London, who, having carefully examined into the
affair, reported, that according to the ancient immunities of the
City, the cutlers had a right to work in gold and silver ; but that
all things made by them were to be assayed by the goldsmiths ;
whereupon the Goldsmiths' Charter was confirmed by Parliament,
and additional privileges were granted.
a.d. 1414. 2 Henry V. c. 4. Ordains, " That all goldsmiths of
England shall gild no silver wares but of the allay of the English
sterling, on forfeiture to the King of the value of the thing sold."
a.d. 1420. 8 Henry V. c. 3. Ordains, " That none shall gild
any sheaths, nor metal but silver and Church ornaments; nor
shall silver no metal but Knight's spurs, and all the apparel that
pertaineth to a Baron, and above that estate : upon pain of for-
feiture to the King ten times as much as the thing so gilt is of
value, and shall have one year's imprisonment."
This statute seems to have been made because the two last were
found ineffectual to prevent frauds.
a.d. 1423. 2 Henry VI. c. 14. " It was ordained that no
goldsmith or worker of silver within the City of London sell no
workmanship of silver, unless it be as fine as the sterling; and
that no goldsmith, nor jeweller, nor any other that worketh
harness of silver, shall set any of the same to sell within the city,
before that it be touched with the touch, and also with a mark or
sign of the workman of the same, upon pain of forfeiture of the
double value thereof. And that the mark or sign of every gold-
smith be known to the wardens of the craft. And if it may be
found that the said Keeper of the Touch touch any such harness
with the leopard's head, except it be as fine in allay as the sterling,
that then he shall forfeit for every thing so proved, the double
value to the King, and to the party who shall prove it. And it is
also ordained that in the city of York, Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
Lincoln, Norwich, Bristol, Salisbury and Coventry, there shall be
divers touches, arcording to the ordinance of Mayors, Bailiffs, or
Governors of the said towns. And that no goldsmith, nor other
workers of silver, nor Keepers of the said touches, within the said
towns, shall set to sell, nor touch any silver in other manner than
is ordained before within the City of London, upon pain of the
said forfeiture."
9
a.d. 1462. 2 Edward IV. Another Charter to the Goldsmiths'
Company in London bears date 30th May, and grants (inter alia)
as follows : —
" The Wardens and Commonality and their successors for ever,
the search, inspection, trial, and regulation of all sorts of gold and
silver wrought, or to be wrought, and to be exposed to sale within
the City of London and the suburbs thereof, and in all fairs and
markets, and all cities, towns and boroughs, and all other places
whatsoever throughout our Kingdom of England; and also shall
have power to punish and correct all defects that shall be found in
the working of gold and silver," and this privilege has been
since so materially enlarged, that they have the power of in-
specting all gold and silver wares in the following particular
places, viz. Chester, Newcastle, Norwich, Exeter, Birmingham
and Sheffield, with the power of punishing all offenders concerned
in working adulterated gold and silver, and of making bye-laws
for their better government.
a.d. 1477. 17 Edward IY. A statute made in this year recites
the Act of 2 Henry VI. above quoted, which ordained that gold-
smiths' work of silver should be as fine as sterling, and that it
should be marked with the touch of the leopard's head. And as
that Act had been daily broken by goldsmiths and other workers
of silver, the fineness of the gold wares was fixed at 18 carats, and
the silver at the same as sterling, on pain of forfeiture of the
double value ; and further enacts that no work of silver should be
exposed to sale, within the City of London, or two miles of the
same, until it had been marked ivith the touch of the leopard's head
crowned, and also with the mark of the worker of the same. This
Act continued for seven years, and was afterwards re-enacted for
twenty years in 1489, and again for twenty years in 1552, by
Edward VI.
a.d. 1488. 4 Henry VII. parl. 3, c. 2, sets forth, " That it was
of old time used and continued till now of late years, that there
was, for the avail of the King and the Realm, Finers and Parters
of gold and silver by fire and water, under a Rule and Order
belonging to the Mints of London, Calais, Canterbury, York, and
Durham, and other places where mints be holden, and at the
Goldsmiths' Hall in London, to fine and part all gold and silver,
belonging and needful for the said Mints and Fellowship of Gold-
smiths, for the amendment of money and plate of the realm : that
10
everything might be reformed to the right standard, as well in
money as plate, to the least cost, for the weal of the King's
noblemen of the land and common people. But now that such
finers and parters dwell abroad in every part of this realm, out of
the Rules aforesaid, and buy gilt silver from the mints, changes
and goldsmiths, and part and fine it ; and for the most part of the
silver so fined, they do allay in divers manners; and sell it to
every man that will buy of them, to make such works as pleaseth
the buyers ; therefore man can get no fine silver, when they need
it, for their money, for the amendment of money and plate as hath
been in times past, wherefore it causeth money and plate, in
divers places of the realm, to be made worse in fineness than it
should be, as it appeareth evidently in divers places, to the great
hurt of the King's noblemen and common people." And enacts,
" That no Finer nor Parter of gold and silver allay any fine silver
or gold, ne none sell in any otherwise, ne to any person or persons,
bat only to the officers of mints, changes, and goldsmiths within
this realm, for augmentation and amending of coin and plate; ne
that no Finer nor Parter sell to no person any manner of silver in
mass, molten and allayed, on forfeiture of the same, — one half to
the King, and the other half to the finder, that can prove and will
sue for it in the Exchequer.-"*
a.d. 1504. Another Charter granted to the Goldsmiths' Company
bearing date 3rd February, 20 Henry VIL, mentions (i that divers
persons in divers parts of this Kingdom do work and expose to
sale gold and silver wrought worse than standard, and neither
fear nor doubt to be punished ; as due search, or due punishment,
is seldom executed out of London. And that the common
standard, or assize of gold and silver (according to the ordinances
in that behalf made) is kept in Goldsmiths' Hall in London; and
that all works and wares in gold and silver there tried and
assayed, and affirmed for good, shall be stamped with their marks,
which they use for that purpose ; and all defective works utterly
condemned."
a.d. 1573. 15 Elizabeth. Commissioners were appointed to
enquire into the standard of gold and silver, which had not been
attended to, in consequence of the disgraceful state of the coinage,
and the low degree of baseness in which that and goldsmiths'
* As this Act makes no mention of any Country Assay Offices, it is probable
that all or most of them were now discontinued.
11
work generally tad recently fallen, but which had then got again
to its former purity. The Commissioners called before them the
Master and Wardens of the Goldsmiths' Company, to see how far
they had complied with the standard ; and they were compelled to
give security that in future no gold wares should be of less
fineness than 22 carats, and silver wares 11 oz. 2 dwts. in the
pound.
a.d. 1576. 18 Elizabeth. In this Parliament, the abuses in
goldsmiths' work were taken into consideration ; and it was
enacted that, after the 20th of April, no goldsmith should work,
sell, or exchange, or cause to be sold, &c, any wares of gold less
in fineness than 22 carats, and that he should use no sother, amell,
or other stuffings whatsoever, more than should be necessary, and
that he should not take above the rate of twelve pence for the
ounce of gold, besides the fashion, more than the buyer should or
might be allowed for the same at the Queen's Exchange or Mint,
upon pain to forfeit the value of the thing so sold or exchanged.
That he should not put to sale any wares, &c, of silver before
he should have set his mark thereon, to so much as might con-
veniently bear it, upon pain of forfeiture of the same. And if in
any goldsmith's ware, &c, touched, marked, and allowed for
good by the Wardens and Corporation of that mystery, after the
said 20th of April, there should be found any falsehood or deceit,
then the Wardens and Corporation of that mystery, for the time
being, should forfeit the value of the said wares.
The Goldsmiths' Company of London is entrusted with the
custody of the pile of troy weights made in this Queen's reign
and no country office is mentioned in this Act.
a.d. 1597. In the Recokds of the Company, is an entry, dated
4th May, 1597, giving an account of an information filed against
two goldsmiths for fraud, " in making divers parcels of counterfeit
plate debased, and worse than her Majesty's standard, and to give
appearance to the said counterfeit plate, being good and lawful,
did thereto put and counterfeit the marks of her Majesty's lion,
the leopard's head, limited by statute, and the alphabetical mark
approved by ordinance amongst themselves, which are the private
marks of the Goldsmiths' Hall, and be and remain in the custody
of the said Wardens, and puncheons to be worked and imprinted
thereon, and did afterwards sell the same for good and sufficient
plate, to the defrauding of her Majesty's subjects," &c. They
12
were convicted and sentenced to stand in the pillory at West-
minster, with their ears nailed thereto, and with papers above
their heads stating their offence to be e( For making false plate
and counterfeiting her Majesty's touch." They were then put in
the pillory at Cheapside, had one ear cut off, and were taken through
Foster Lane to Fleet Prison, and had to pay a fine of ten marks.*
Although this is the first mention of Her Majesty's lion, or lion
passant, and the alphabetical mark, yet they were both used long
before this date. The lion passant is first found on plate of the
year 1545, and the alphabetical mark was doubtless used since
the first Charter was granted to the Goldsmiths' Company in
1327, and is alluded to in an ordinance of 1336 as the " assay er's
mark."
THE GOLDSMITHS' ORDER.
Goldsmiths' Hall, 23rd February, 1675.
Whereas complaint hath been made to the Wardens of the
Company of Goldsmiths, London, that divers small works, as
buckles for belts, silver hilts, and the pieces thereto belonging,
with divers other small wares, both of gold and silver, are
frequently wrought and put to sale by divers goldsmiths and
others, worse than standard, to the great abuse of his Majesty's
good subjects, and great discredit of that manufacture, and re-
proach in foreign parts to the English goldsmiths ; and that there
are also divers pieces of silver plate sold, not being assayed at
Goldsmiths' Hall, and so not marked with the leopard's head
crowned, or lyon, as by law the same ought to be : And whereas
the Wardens of the said Company, to prevent the said frauds,
have formerly required all persons to forbear putting to sale any
adulterate wares, either of gold or silver ; but that they cause the
same forthwith to be defaced : And that as well plate workers as
small workers shall cause their respective marks to be brought to
Goldsmiths' Hall, and there strike the same in a table kept in the
Assay Office ; and likewise enter their names and places of habi-
* This was the usual punishment for similar offences. In Belgium it was
slightly varied. The goldsmith convicted of having fabricated base gold or
silver was led to the market place, and there had his ear nailed to a pillar,
where he remained, thus fixed, until he released himself by leaving a piece of
his ear behind him.
13
tations in a book there kept for that purpose, whereby the persons
and their marks might be known unto the Wardens of the said
Company; which having not hitherto been duly observed, and
many of the offenders seem to be incorrigible ; these are therefore
to give notice to, and to require again all those who exercise the
said art or mystery of goldsmiths in or about the cities of London
and Westminster and the suburbs of the same, that they forthwith
repair to Goldsmiths' Hall and there strike their marks, first
approved by the Wardens in Court, in a table appointed for that
purpose, and likewise enter their names with the places of their
respective dwellings in a book remaining in the Assay Office there.
And that as well the worker as shopkeeper, and all cutlers and
girdlers and all others working or trading in gold or silver wares
of what kind soever or quality they be, forbear putting to sale any
of the said works, not being agreeable to standard, that is to say,
gold not less in fineness than 22 carats, and silver not less in
fineness than 11 oz. 2 dwts. ; and that no person or persons do
from henceforth put to sale any of the said wares, either small or
great, before the workman's mark be struck clear and visible
thereon, and upon every part thereof, that is wrought asundery
and afterwards sodered or made fast thereto, in finishing the
same; unless it be such sort of work adjudged by the Wardens,
that it will not conveniently bear the worker's mark. And that
all manner of silver vessels, and all manner of silver hilts for
swords, and all manner of silver buckles for belts and girdles, and
other harness of silver be assayed at Goldsmiths' Hall and there
approved for standard, by striking thereon the lion and leopard' '*
head crowned, or one of them, before they be exposed to sale.
And hereof all persons concerned are required to take notice, and
demean themselves accordingly : otherwise the Wardens resolve
to make it their care to procure them to be proceeded against
according to law. And will reward every person for ther pains
in discoveriug before them (in court) the matter of fact of any
transgressor (in the premises) upon the conviction of the offender.
a.d. 1697. 8 & 9 William III. c. 8, s. 1. Enacts that any
persons that shall bring any sort of wrought plate, between the
1st January, 1696, and the 4th November, 1697, into any of his
Majesty's mints, &c, shall be paid 5s. 4d. per ounce for the same ;
and that the master and worker of the mints shall receive all such
14
wrought plate, which shall plainly appear to have thereon the
mark commonly used at the Hall, belonging to the Company of
Goldsmiths in London, besides the workman's mark, as sterling
silver, without tarrying till it be melted and assayed. And where
the wrought plate, so brought, shall not have the said marks
thereon, then the party bringing such plate shall have the same
forthwith melted and assayed, and shall be allowed 6s. 4d. per
ounce for every ounce of sterling silver found therein.
a.d. 1697. 8 & 9 William III. c. 8, s. 9. " And whereas it
might reasonably be suspected that part of the silver coins of the
realm had been, by persons regarding their own private gain
more than the public good, molten and converted into vessels of
silver or other manufactured plate, which crime had been the
more easily perpetrated by them, in regard the goldsmiths or
others, workers of plate, by the former laws and statutes of the
realm, were not obliged to make their plate of finer silver than
the sterling or standard ordained for the monies of the realm."
It was therefore enacted that from and after the 25th day of
March, 1697, no silver plate should be made of less fineness than
that of 11 oz. 10 dwts. of fine silver in every pound troy, and that
no silver vessels, &c, made after that time, should be put to sale
until such vessels, &c, should be ^marked, except silver wire or
such things as, in respect of their smallness, were incapable of
receiving a mark. That the marks should be — that of the
worker, to be expressed by the two' first letters of his surname;
the marks of the mystery or craft of the goldsmiths, which
instead of the leopard's head and the lion, should be for this
plate the figure of a lion's head erased,* and the figure of a
woman, commonly called Britannia ; and a distinct variable mark
to be used by the Warden of the said mystery, to denote the year
in which such plate was made ; and that those marks should be
affixed, on pain of forfeiture of all silver vessels, &c, that should
be exposed for sale.
As will be seen by the Tables, a mark was used by the
Goldsmiths' Company in London to denote the year in which the
plate was assayed long before this time. It would appear that no
country office did now exist ; and wrought plate not marked with
* Erased is a technical term in heraldry, signifying separate, or without the
body.
15
the Hall Mark of the Goldsmiths' Company of London was not to
be received by the officers of the mints as sterling, but as un-
certain silver.
a.d. 1698. 9 & 10 William III. c. 28, recites, " That by an Act
of the 7 & 8 William III. c. 19, no wrought plate can be shipped
off, under the great penalties therein named, whereby no home
wrought manufactured plate, though never so beneficial to the
artificers and trade of this kingdom, is permitted to be exported
which was at that time a good and wholesome law, and tended to
the benefit of the kingdom by keeping bullion at home to be
coined : And that a great benefit may accrue to many artificers
and to the kingdom in general, by giving liberty to export
watches, sword hilts, wrought plate and several other manu-
factures, made within this kingdom, being of the fineness pre-
scribed in the last recited Act. And enacts that after the 24th
June, 1698, " it shall be lawful to export such watches, plate, &c,
according to the rules prescribed in the said last recited Act, as
shall be yearly allowed by the Commissioners of the Custom
a.d. 1700. 12 William III. c. 43, s. 1 & 2. York, Exeter,
Bristol, Chester, and Norwich, were appointed by this statute
for assaying and making wrought plate; and in 1702, 1 Anne,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne was added to the list. This Act requires
that they shall stamp the silver plate assayed by them with the
marks therein described ; and in addition to the arms of their
cities, and to the description of the variable mark to show the
year when such plate was made, is added "or letter in Roman
character." Nearly all these cities, it will be seen, were chosen
for the same purpose as early as 2 Henry VI. a.d. 1424, but many
had probably never availed themselves of the privilege, or had
long since discontinued it, or it would have been unnecessary to
reappoint them expressly by this statute.
As the King's subjects had, in the year 1697, sold most of their
wrought plate to the mints to be coined into money, and the said
Act 8 Will. III. c. 8, had abolished the old standard of ] 1 oz.
2 dwts. and established the new standard of 11 oz. 10 dwts. for
wrought silver plate, and had intrusted only the said Company of
Goldsmiths in London with assaying and marking all the new
standard plate of the kingdom ; and as a large demand now arose
for wrought plate, and the goldsmiths in the remote parts of the
kingdom were under great difficulties to supply their customers ;
16
therefore the goldsmiths, &c, in the above cities (where mints
were lately erected) obtained the above Act.*
York was one of the most ancient places of assay, bnt it has
several times discontinned its operations. It will be seen that in
1772, when a return was made to Parliament, the Assay Office
was not in existence; but after that it appears to have recom-
menced. In 1848 we find it mentioned as an assay town, but
doing very little business.
In Norwich, plate was assayed and marked at an early period,
and some specimens are existing among the Corporation plate of
the date 1567. An annual letter seems to have been used, for on
a silver gilt salt and cover, " The Gyfte of Peter Reade, Esquiar,"
to the Corporation, the marks are. — 1. The Arms of Norwich,
viz. gules, a castle surmounted with a tower argent, in base a lion
passant gardant or; 2. A capital J); and 3. A cross-mound
with a lozenge. It was therefore made and stamped at Norwich
before 1568, for Peter Reade died in that year.
Among the records of the Corporation of Norwich we see that
in 1614 the mark of a castle and lion was delivered by the Mayor
and Corporation to the Wardens and Searcher of the trade of
goldsmiths, and in July 1, 1702, Mr. Robert Harstonge was
sworn assayer of gold and silver to the Company. Norwich has
long since ceased to mark plate.
Exeter. — There are no records at the Hall previous to 1701.
The early marks used at Exeter previous to this date, are spoken
of afterwards. The City hall mark was then a letter X crowned,
subsequently altered to a castle of three towers. The Act passed in
1700, reappointing this city for assaying plate, did not come into
operation until the 29th September, 1701. On the 7th August
the Company of Goldsmiths met, and on the 17th of September,
Wardens were appointed, and they resolved, with all convenient
speed and safety, to put the Act in execution; and the first
assayer was sworn-in before the Mayor on the 19th of November,
1701. The letters commenced with a Roman capital A for that
year, as ordered by the statute, which characters, large and small,
* This Act only empowered the Goldsmiths' Company of London to stamp
plate of the new standard, consequently the provincial offices were compelled to
send plate to London to be assayed and stamped. The Act of 1700 conferred
the same privilege upon the cities therein named, but from 1696 to 1701 no plate
had been assayed or stamped anywhere but in London.
17
they used throughout the alphabet until 1837, when they adopted
old English capitals for that cycle. A. Table of Letters for each
year will be found further on. From 1797 the letters are the
same for each year as the Goldsmiths' Hall of London, they having
reduced the number of letters to twenty instead of twenty-four
in each cycle. The extensive collection of old English spoons in
the possession of Dr. and Mrs. Ashford, of Torquay, especially
rich in those manufactured at Exeter, has been of great service
in verifying the table of date marks, and Dr. Ashford' s careful
investigation of the subject has greatly assisted our research.
Chester. — We have no record of the time when Chester first
commenced assaying plate; it is not mentioned in the statute
of the 2nd Henry IV. (a. d. 1423), but an office must have been
established early in the 16th Century. An old minute book con-
tains an entry some time prior to 1573, directing " That noe
brother shall delevere noe plate by him wrought unles his touche
be marked and set upon the same, before deliverie thereof upon
paine of forfeture of everie diffalt to be levied out of his goods
iij8 iiijV We also quote the following, which may interest some
of our readers : —
" Md the viij day of March in Anno 1603° Yt is concluded
and agreyed by the whole Compeney of the Gouldsmyths y* this
Order shalbe houlden and kept amongst us all, that the brood
Arrowes agaynst Shrowstid * shall way everie one vjd stalling and
everie on of the Compeny shall not sell vnder ixd and for everie
on that selles vnder ixd shall fforfyt xijd And yt is ffourther
agreyed that the Steward for y* time shall come and sey them
wayd and touchte. And to have IFor his paynes ijd a duzen.
And for the perfibrmance of thise order we have subscribed our
names At that time beinge Alderman and Steward of ye said
Compeney of the Gouldsmyths.-"
Another entry of 1686 thus directs " And it is further concluded
that the Wardens' marks shall be the coat and crest of the Citty
of Chester on two punsons, with a letter for the year/''
* This allusion to the " broad arrows against Shrovetide " refers to an ancient
custom at Chester of holding shooting and running matches for prizes of silver
broad arrows every Shrove Tuesday. These arrows (in sheaves of six in each)
were given by the Shoemakers' Company, and by all newly-married couples, as
homages to the Drapers' Company. The homage of the Sadlers' Company was
a silver bell, to be given to the owner of the swiftest horse in a race on
the same day.
C
18
The arms of Chester, granted in 1580, are, party per pale,
composed of the dexter half of the coat of England, gules,
three lions passant gardant dimidiated, or, and the sinister half of
the coat of Handle Meschine, Earl of Chester, azure, three garbs
also dimidiated or. The crest is, on a wreath or, gules and azure,
over a royal helmet, a sword of state erect, with the point upwards.
Supporters; on the dexter side, a lion rampant or, ducally gorged
argent; on the sinister side, a wolf argent, ducally gorged or.
The early hall mark on plate was the coat here described, used as
a stamp, down to about 1775 ; after which date a spurious coat of
arms was adopted, of a dagger between three garbs, which is still
used.
Again, 2 June, 1690, " And the same day the letter was
changed from A to B and so to continue for one year."
These extracts prove that the Goldsmiths' Company at Chester
assayed and stamped plate with the arms of the city, accom-
panied by a date letter and the maker's mark, long before 1701,
but we have not met with any specimens to enable us to deter-
mine accurately the forms of the letters employed.
Chester was reappointed by the Act 12th William III (1700)
and is regulated by that and the 12th George II. The variable
letter is changed on the 5th of August in every year.
We mast here express our thanks to the present Assay Master,
Mr. Jas. Foulkes Lowe, B.A., for his persevering kindness, not only
in searching the records and furnishing extracts, but in obtaining
impressions of ancient plate and affording much valuable infor-
mation on the subject, which has enabled us to give a table of
the assay letters used at Chester from 1689 to the present time.
In this task he has been ably assisted by Mr. Thos. Hughes, F.S.A.,
the indefatigable Secretary of the Chester Archaeological Society.
An interesting copper plate is preserved in the office, and is
doubtless that mentioned in the cash book of Nov. 1692. " Paid
Mr. Bullen for a coper plate and punson 4s." It contains
principally the makers' marks, which in 1697 consisted of the two
first letters of the surname, and on and after 1739 the initials of
christian and surname. It has also the Roman capital date letters
on square stamps used in the cycle commencing 1701, and those
of other cycles, but not arranged in order. The other stamps are
struck promiscuously on the plate, merely for the purpose of
proving them.
At Newcastle-upon-Tyne the annual letter appears to have
19
been used from 1702. Mr. Thomas Sewell, one of the Wardens
of the Assay Office, has kindly furnished us with a table of date
letters, chronologically arranged, compiled from the Assay Office
books and the copper plate on which the maker strikes his initials,
as well as from pieces of old plate which have from time to time
come under his notice. From a careful examination of various
examples of Newcastle plate, we have, in this edition, altered'
some of the characters, making the table more complete. The
change of letter takes place on the 3rd of May in each year.
Bristol did not avail itself of the powers conferred upon it by
the statute of 1700.
The author of ( The Touchstone for Gold and Silver Wares'
1676, in speaking of the Act 2 Henry VI. says, " But what are
the particular marks, the respective chief Governors of those
seven places set on the silver works, I can give no account
thereof. But this I can assert, that by reason the marks of those
places are little known, they bear as little credit ; and therefore
the goldsmiths in those and other remote places, do frequently
send up their silver works to receive the London touch."
a.d. 1719. 6 Geo. I. c. 11, s. 1, recites, that it is found by
experience that the manufactures of silver, which were made
according to the old standard, are more serviceable and durable
than those which have been made of the new standard, therefore
enacts, that the said old standard of silver plate made after the
1st June, 1720, shall be restored, revived and take place instead
of the said new standard : and Sec. 2 enacts that no goldsmith,
&c, shall be obliged to make silver plate according to the said
new standard.
Sec. 4 grants to his Majesty a duty of sixpence per ounce on all
silver imported into and made in Great Britain.
Sec. 41 recites, that it may be requisite, for encouraging the
several manufactures of wrought plate, to continue both the new
and old standards, for the better accommodating the buyers of
plate, and the workers and dealers therein : and therefore enacts
that all wrought plate shall not be made less in fineness than
11 oz. 10 dwts. or 11 oz. 2 dwts.; which two different standards
of wrought plate shall be severally marked with distinguishing
marks, viz. — plate of 11 oz. 10 dwts. with the workman's mark,
the warden's mark, the lion's head erased and the Britannia; and
plate of 11 oz. 2 dwts. with the worker's mark, the warden's
c 2
20
mark, a lion passant and a leopard's head; and that it shall not
be lawful to make silver plate of a coarser allay.*
a.d. 1739. 12 Geo. II. c. 26. This Act recited the following
statutes: 28 Edw. I., 2 Henry YI„ 18 Eliz., and 12 Will. III.,
and then enacted, that from and after the 28th May, 1739, all
gold wares should not be less iu fineness than 22 carats of fine
gold, and all silver wares not less than 11 oz. 2 dwts. of fine silver,
in every pound weight troy, but this was not to extend to
jewellers' work, that is, to any gold or silver wherein any jewels
or other stones should be set, or any other small works of that
kind. The penalty £ 10. for every offence. By the same Act it
was ordered that the makers were to destroy their existing marks,
which were the two first letters of their surname, and substitute
the initials of their christian and surnames.
Sec. 5 enacts, That no person, making, trading or dealing in
gold or silver wares shall sell, exchange, or expose to sale or
export, until marked as follows —
Gold plate and old standard plate with the maker's mark, and
these marks of the Company of Goldsmiths in London, viz. the
leopard's head, the lion passant, and the yearly letter; or with
the maker's mark and with the marks appointed to be used by
the assay ers of York and other places.
And new standard silver plate with the maker's mark, and
these marks of the said Company, viz. the lion's head erased, the
Britannia, and the yearly letter ; or with the maker's mark, and
the marks of one of the said cities or towns.
Sec. 11 of this Act states the great frauds in the trade, and
particularly in using too much solder, and entrusts the Wardens,
&c, with determining what solder is necessary, and whether
wrought plate is forward enough in workmanship, and has all the
pieces affixed together or not.
a.d. 1756. Stat. 29 George II. c. 14, grants an annual duty to
his Majesty, for all silver plate in Great Britain from 100 to 4000,
of five shillings for every 100 ounces, from 5th July, 1756.
a.d. 1758. 31 George II. c. 32. An Act was passed to repeal
the statute of the 6th of the King, by which a duty of sixpence
had been imposed upon every ounce troy of silver plate imported
* None of the Country Assay Offices, nor their marks, are mentioned in this
Act.
21
into, or made in groat Britain ; and a duty of forty shillings for a
licence, to be taken out by every person trading in, selling, or
vending gold or silver plate, was granted in lien of it ; to take
place from and after the 1st day of June, 1758, and the licence to
be taken out annually, on forfeiture of twenty pounds for neg-
lecting so to do. By the same Act, the statute of the 12th of the
King, for the better preventing frauds and abuses in gold and
silver wares, was likewise repealed, because the punishment
which was enacted by it against counterfeiting stamps and marks
upon gold and silver plate, was not sufficiently severe to prevent
that practice, and the said crime was now made felony, without
benefit of clergy. This penalty was, in 1 773, commuted to trans-
portation for fourteen years.
a.d. 1759. Stat. 32 George II. c. 14, s. 1, exempts persons
trading in gold not exceeding two pennyweights, or in silver
not exceeding four pennyweights, in one piece of goods, from
taking out a licence; and Sec. 3 grants an annual duty of £5.
(instead of 40s.) to His Majesty, for every licence by each person
trading in gold plate of two ounces or upwards, or in silver plate
of thirty ounces or upwards.
a.d. 1773. 13 George III. c. 52. This Act was passed for the
appointment of Y^ardens and assay masters for assaying and
stamping wrought silver plate, in the towns of • Sheffield and
Birmingham. Silver goods C( shall be marked as followeth ; that
is to say, with the mark of the maker or worker thereof, which
shall be the first letter of his christian and surname; and also
with the lion passant, and with the mark of the Company within
whose Assay Office such plate shall be assayed and marked, to
denote the goodness thereof, and the place where the same was
assayed and marked ; and also with a distinct variable mark or
letter, which letter or mark shall be annually changed upon the
election of new wardens for each Company, to denote the year in
which such plate is marked/''
At Birmingham the selection of the variable letter, which is
directed to be changed with the annual election of the wardens
in July, is not confided to any officers, but the custom has been
to take the letters in alphabetical order, adopting for one cycle
of twenty-six years the Roman, and for another cycle the Old
English letters.
a.d. 1824. 5 George IV. Power was given to the Company
22
at Birmingham to assay gold as well as silver, and their marks
are the same as London, except that the anchor is substituted
for the leopard's head. The office has exclusive jurisdiction over
all plate made in the town, or within thirty miles of it.
At Sheffield, silver only is assayed. Mr. J. Watson, the Assay
Master, has most courteously furnished us with the variable letter
for each year from the commencement in 1773, from references to
the minute book wherein are recorded the meetings for the election
of new wardens, as well as the letter to be used in the ensuing
year ; the change takes place on the 5th July. The plan adopted
at Sheffield differs from all the other offices, for instead of taking
the alphabet in regular succession, the special letter for each year
is selected apparently at random until 1824, after which the letters
follow in their proper order. Through Mr. Watson's kindness, we
are enabled to lay before our readers a table of marks, which has
been verified by him. The marks used at this office are the same
as at London, except that the crown is substituted for the leopard's
head, and variation of the date mark.
a.d. 1784. 24 George III. An Act was passed imposing an
additional duty of eight shillings per ounce on gold plate, and
sixpence per ounce on silver plate.* It was also enacted that the
wardens or their assay masters should mark the pieces with a new
mark, viz. the King's head, over and above the several other
marks directed by law. The expression "The King's head" is
understood to mean the representation of the head of the reigning
Sovereign. The present mark is therefore the Queen's head.
a.d. 1798. 38 George III. An Act was passed to permit
gold wares to be manufactured, for sale or exportation, of the
standard of 18 carats of fine gold in every pound weight troy;
such gold wares to be stamped with a crown and the figures 18,
instead of the mark of the lion passant, not to the exclusion of,
but concurrently with the former standard of 22 carats.
a.d. 1854. 17 & 18 Victoria. A Bill was passed allowing
gold wares to be manufactured at a lower standard than before
allowed by law, and to amend the law relating to the assaying of
gold and silver wares. The first clause recites that Her Majesty
* The duty on gold was, in 1804, increased to 16s., and in 1815 to 17s. per
ounce. The duty on silver, in 1797, was Is.; in 1804, Is. 3c?.; and in 1815,
Is. 6d. per ounce ; the payment being still denoted by the stamp of the
Sovereign's head.
23
may, by Order in Council, allow any standard for gold wares not
less than one-third part in the whole of fine gold, to be marked
with such mark or marks for distinguishing the actual fineness,
to be declared in such order ; and also to approve thereby of the
instrument with which gold vessels, &c, shall be marked or
stamped, setting" forth in figures the fineness according to the
standard declared.
In pursuance of this Act, the following reduced standards
were ordered by the Council, to be marked thus: — for 15 carat
gold, 15 and 625; for 12 carat gold, 12 and 500; and for 9 carat
gold, 9 and 375.
The inferior qualities were not encouraged by the public, as is
shown in the following extracts from the return dated 11th
February, 1864, of the number and value of gold watch cases
assayed and marked at each of the Assay Offices of the United
Kingdom : —
22 Carat.
18 Carat.
15 Carat.
12 Carat.
9 Carat.
Goldsmiths' Hall, London, 1855
9
20,414
34
223
144
1863
6
23,541
1
4
1
At Birmingham,
1855
altogether
361
d
1863
36
At Chester,
1855
none.
6997
166
1132
151
1863
none.
13,233
18
48
18
EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,
APPOINTED TO ENQUIRE INTO THE MANNER OF CONDUCTING THE SEVERAL ASSAY
OFFICES IN LONDON, YORK, EXETER, BRISTOL, CHESTER, NORWICH, AND
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.
[Ordered to be printed in 1773.]
The Report commences, that "In order to discover in what
manner the several Assay Offices in London, Chester, Exeter and
Newcastle-upon-Tyne (being the only Assay Offices which they
find are now kept up in this Kingdom) have been conducted,
ordered the Assay Masters to attend them, and produce an
account of the number of Goldsmiths, Silversmiths and Plate
Workers, &c. — the names and places of abode of those now
living that have entered their marks, also an account of the
24
weight of all the gold and silver plate assayed and marked at
each office for seven years last past."
From this it appears, that the offices at York, Bristol, and
Norwich, were not then in operation.
As to the Goldsmiths' Hall, London, Mr. David Hennell,
Deputy Warden, stated that there are at the said office two
weighers, four drawers, and two assayers; and described what
their duties were. Mr. Fendall Kushworth, Senior Assay Master •
Mr. George Fair, Clerk to the Company ; and Mr. Eichard Collins,
Fireman and Drawer, were also examined as to the annual diet
tried on the 28th May, the modes of assay, &c.
Mr. W. Hancock, a silversmith of Sheffield, said that his work
had been injured by scraping ; and he went to the Hall and gave
some drink to the assay master and scraper, since which time his
plate has been less damaged. Mr. Spillsbury said that drawers
or scrapers, if inclined, had opportunities of delivering to the
assayer better silver than they scrape from the work; that the
assayer had an opportunity of wrapping in lead what scrapings
he pleased, to put upon the coppels which he delivered to the
fireman ; and as the standard mark is put upon the silver by the
report of the assayer alone, he had opportunities of favouring any
silversmith he pleased; that he had several times treated the
workmen with drink; and thought it of consequence to be on
good terms with the scrapers, as they had the power of shewing
favour ; for when his plate had been objected to, he had known
those difficulties removed by giving liquor at the Hall.
As to the office at Chester, Mr. John Scasebrick, the Assay
Master, described the mode of operating : If pieces came, from
which he could cut bits, he did so; if not, he scraped off sufficient
for the assay and wrapped it in lead, and when the furnace and
coppels were hot enough he refined the assay, but no flux was
used, because the lead refined it. If it came out 11 oz. 2 dwts.
fine silver, it was marked with the lion, the leopard's head, the
city arms (being three lions and a wheat sheaf), and the letter for
the year, the letter for the present official year (1772-3) being U.
Sometimes it is passed at 11 oz., but then the owners are written
to, to be more cautious for the future. He had no fixed salary —
his profit never amounted to £10. in any one year; the diet
was never sent to the Tower to be assayed. When asked how
he knew when silver was sufficiently assayed, he answered, " We
know by the assay : it first has a cap over it, then that works off
25
in various colours ; and after that it grows quite bright, and then
we know all the lead is worked away."
Mr. Mathew Skinner, Assay Master at Exeter, described the
mode of work. When asked to describe his method of assaying
silver, he said, " I take a small quantity of silver from each piece,
(the quantity allowed by Act of Parliament is eight grains from
every pound troy weight) which I weigh by the assay pound
weight; I wrap it up in a thin sheet of lead, and when the
furnace is properly heated, the assays are put in and fired off ;
they are taken out when cool, and then weighed, and from the
waste we ascertain its goodness. cc That the staudard for plate
is 11 oz. 2 dwts. of fine silver and 18 dwts. of alloy, but they
allow a remedy of 2 dwts. in the pound. That the marks he
strikes upon wrought plate are the lion, the leopard's head, the
Exeter mark (which is a castle), and the letter for the year ; that
the letter for the present official year (1772-3) is Z, in Roman
character ; that the letter is appointed annually, at the first hall
meeting after the 7th August, and goes through the whole
alphabet ; and that A will be the letter for next year."
Mr. Mathew Prior, Assay Master of the Goldsmiths' Company
at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, described his mode of assaying : That
of silver by fine lead ; and his flux for gold was aquafortis, fine
silver and lead. That he puts four marks upon the plate, viz. the
lion, the leopard's head, the three casfcles, and the letter for the
year; and that the letter for the present official year (1772-3)
is D.
Mr. David Hennell described a fraud which was sometimes
attempted by dishonest workers, called a Convoy, to deceive the
assayer. He said, "If scrapings or cuttings are taken from
different pieces of the same sorts of plate, the whole mass so cut
or scraped may prove standard, but several of these pieces may
not be standard; and that it is common, to put good pieces in
spoons, &c, to the amount of 10, 12, or 15 dwts. above standard
amongst the bad ones, as a kind of convoy for the rest; but if
that is suspected, they separate it, and make different assays of
all the parts, and if they find one part worse than standard they
break the whole.
Another fraud spoken of by several witnesses was inserting
iron, brass, &c, in the handles of snuffers, tankards, sauce boats,
&c, which had escaped detection at Goldsmiths' Hall, and had
been marked accordingly.
26
An Appendix to this Report contains the names and places of
abode of all the goldsmiths, silversmiths and plate workers now
living, that have entered their marks in the Assay Office in Gold-
smiths Hall, in the City of London, 8th March, 1 773.
The names and trades of the present wardens and assayers of
the Goldsmiths' Company, and when, at what times, and by whom
they were respectively elected.
The oath taken by the Assayer at Goldsmiths' Hall.
The Appendix also contains an account of the prosecutions
which have been commenced and carried on by the Company of
Goldsmiths of the City of London, against any person or persons
for frauds or abuses in gold or silver plate, within seven years
last past : —
In 1767 William C, working silversmith, was prosecuted by
indictment upon Stat. 28 Edw. I. and Stat. 6 George I. c. 11, for
soldering bits of standard silver to tea tongs and shoe buckles
which were worse than standard, and sending the same to the
said Company's Assay Office, in order fraudulently to obtain their
marks to the same.
In 1768 William K. of London, working silversmith, was
prosecuted by indictment upon the said statutes, for making two
salt cellars worse than standard, and selling them for standard.
In 1770 James M. E. and partners were severally prosecuted
by actions on Stat. 12 George II. for making gold chains worse than
standard; and Roger S. and others were prosecuted for selling
gold watch chains worse than standard.
In 1778 John G. and William V., watchmakers were prosecuted
for selling two silver watch cases without being marked, and
which on that account were stopped at the Custom House in
London, on their being found in a cask of hardware, in which
action they suffered judgment to go by default.
The amount of gold and silver plate assayed and marked at
the Assay Offices for seven years, ending the 29th May now last
past (1772).
London Gold, 3926 lb. 2 oz. 8 dwts. 8 grs.
„ Silver, 692,528 lb. 3 oz. 11 dwts.
Chester Total, 715 lb. weight of Silver Plate.
Exeter Total, 2,800 lb. weight of Silver Plate.
Newcastle Total, 7,266 lb. weight of Silver Plate.
27
FRAUDS AND OFFENCES.
7 & 8 Victokia, c. 22, is tlie most recent statute, and which
must now be taken as the guide and authority in all cases of
forgery of the dies and marks used at the Assay Offices. It
declares (Sec. 2) each of the following offences to be felony, and
punishable with transportation or imprisonment.
The exact words of the statute are not here given.
Forging or counterfeiting any die used by any of the Companies
of Goldsmiths or guardians for making gold or silver wares.
Marking wares with a forged die.
Counterfeiting marks of any die.
Transposing marks from one ware of gold or silver to another,
or to a ware of base metal.
Having possession, without lawful excuse, and knowingly, of a
forged die, or of any ware bearing the mark of a forged die, or a
transposed mark.
Cutting off marks with intent to affix them to other wares.
Affixing to any ware a mark cut from another.
Fraudulently using genuine dies.
A case under this statute was tried before Lord Denman at
Taunton Assizes in 1849. Two silversmiths were indicted for
having in their possession a silver spoon having thereon a mark
of a die used by the Goldsmiths' Company, which had been
transposed from a silver skewer; and also a similar charge in
respect to a silver soup ladle. The prosecution was instituted by
the Goldsmiths' Company of London. The spoon and ladle were
of modern make but bore the mark of the year 1774. An officer
of the Goldsmiths' Company proved that on clearing off the gilding
and using a blow pipe, he found that the spoon and ladle were
not made in one piece, which would be the ordinary mode of
manufacture, but that the parts bearing the marks were " inserted "
or " brought on." A working silversmith proved that by direction
of the prisoners he had made and sent to them two silver bowls
for spoons; that they were afterwards returned to him with
handles attached to be gilt, and when he burnished them he
perceived the old hall marks; that the bowls and stems or
handles were generally made together. The defence was that
the facts proved did not amount to a transposition, but were an
28
addition, and as such were not a felony, but came under the 5th
section of the Act which imposed a pecuniary penalty for the
offence.
It was suggested that the spoon and ladle were made by using
old silver skewers, with the old hall mark, for the stems, and
adding to them bowls and figures at the top called " apostles " in
order to give them the appearance of old plate, and that this was
an addition. It was admitted by the prisoners' counsel to be a
fraud in contravention of the Act, but not a felony under the 2nd
section. The jury found that it was not a transposition but an
addition, and the prisoners were discharged ; the judge remarked,
however, (( it appears to me very much to be questioned, at least,
whether the description of transposition in the one section is not
precisely the same as the description of addition in the other
section.
UNCERTAIN OLD ENGLISH HALL MARKS.
It must be borne in mind that the Acts of Parliament relating
to the stamping of plate at the Goldsmiths' Hall, London, only
refer to the making and selling of plate in the cities of London
and Westminster and the suburbs thereof. In the parts of
England, therefore, distant from the metropolis, it was the
custom, as enacted by 2 Rich. II. 1379, "that every goldsmith
should have his own proper mark set upon his work/'' and also
that " the work should bear the mark of the city or borough
where it was assayed.'"
EXETEE.
Mr. Morgan speaks of a mark he had occasionally met with on
old plate, resembling the letter X, surmounted by a crown, which
he conjectured might be St. Andrew's cross, therefore of Scotch
origin. We have met with several specimens, and on all, the
mark is invariably the Roman letter X, not a cross saltire or
St. Andrew's cross.
Another peculiarity relating to this mark is, when it occurs on
spoons, it is always placed within the bowl, in the same position
as the leopard's head on spoons struck in London, it seems there-
fore probable that it denotes the stamp of a town.
29
In order, therefore, that we may endeavour to trace this mark
to its proper locality, we will briefly notice some of the specimens
which have come under our notice, being all evidently of English
manufacture.
A brown mottled stoneware jug, in silver gilt mounting, of the
16th Century, has the letter X crowned, the word EASTON,
and a small old English date letter C on a shield. The date
engraved on the handle is 1586. W. Chaffers, Esq.
A brown stoneware jug, mounted in silver, has, 1st, the letter
X, surmounted by a crown and two pellets; 2nd, the word
ESTON; 3rd, C on a shield; 4th, a small old English date
letter g on a shield. On the handle is engraved the date 1595.
W. Cozier, Esq.
A silver apostle spoon has three marks : 1st, the letter X
crowned, and two fleurs-de-lis, within the bowl; 2nd, the word
EASTON ; 3rd, a small old English date letter C on a pointed
shield. On the back are some letters pounced and the date 1634.
Dr. Ashford, Torquay. Eorty-eight years before (or two cycles of
24 years), Easton put the same date letter on the jug above
mentioned of 1586.
These three pieces are from families in Devonshire, and we
have traced several others to the same county. A silversmith
residing in Exeter assures us that he has frequently met with
similar marks, and has always considered them to be old Exeter
stamps, in which opinion he is corroborated by other residents of
the vicinity.
A silver spoon, bears an oblong stamp of a castle of three
towers, with the word EXON (Exoniensis), EX on one side and
ON on the other. It has on the handle the date 1692 pounced
or pricked, but the make is probably earlier. Dr. J. B. Ashford.
Another spoon bears the impress of a castle and the word
BAR, and the initials under LP. The owner interprets it Barum
or Barnstaple. It has the date of presentation pricked upon it,
170^, but it was doubtless made before the passing of the Act
of 1700. Dr. J. B. Ashford.
A stoneware jug of the 16th Century, mounted in silver, bears
the marks of the letter X crowned and the word YEDS. South
Kensington Museum.
A silver apostle spoon has in the bowl, 1st, the letter X crowned ;
2nd, on the stem the name RADCLIFF; and 3rd, the letters I. R.
30
and a flower ; it also bears the pounced or pricked letters and date
of presentation 1637. The Rev. T. Staniforth, Storrs, Windermere.
A brown stoneware jug of the 16th Century, mounted in silver
handsomely chased, has the marks of an X crowned, with two
pellets in the side angles and the word HORWOD stamped. In
the possession of Mr. Martin Tucker Smith.
There are two silver apostle spoons marked with the letter X
crowned, and a goldsmith's mark repeated thrice, with pounced
letters and date 1659. In the Salford Museum, Peel Park.
A silver apostle spoon has the letter X crowned, as before, and
a goldsmith's mark, and is pounced with letters and date of
presentation 1635. Rev. T. Staniforth, Storrs, Windermere.
Dr. J. B. Ashford possesses several apostle spoons, with the
crowned X inscribed with the following dates : —
1634 & 1646. The crowned X has a small cross in each lateral
angle, on a round shield.
1649. The crowned X has a triangular pellet in each lateral
angle, ditto.
1660. The crowned X is on an escutcheon shaped to the letter.
1661. Crowned X on a round escutcheon
1675. Crowned X with round pellets in each lateral angle, on a
round shield.
1678. Crowned X with two pellets and round beaded escutcheon.
1681. Crowned X with two pellets.
1682. Crowned X with two stars of 5 points at the sides and a
small S under.
By reference to the dates of presentation on the pieces of plate
here described, it will be observed they range from 1586 to 1700 ;
and doubtless at Exeter most of the plate made in the West of
England was sent to be stamped : indeed so much was an Assay
Office required, that in the year 1700 Exeter was included in the
statute, and after that date the shield of arms of the town (a
castle with three towers) was adopted ; and although Bristol was
empowered to assay plate, both by 2 Henry YI. (1424), and also
by 12 William III. (1700), it never availed itself of the powers
thereby conferred. On the other hand, Exeter, before the Act
came into operation, appointed its Wardens and Assayers with
all convenient speed and safety, and they were sworn in on the
19th of November, 1701.
31
Another old English mark occasionally found on plate previous
to the year 1700, is that of a half fleur-de-lis and a half rose
conjoined, the latter being sometimes crowned.
A stoneware jug, mounted in silver, belonging to Mr. Addington,
is ornamented with raised masks and scrolls and the royal arms
of England as borne by Queen Elizabeth — a Tudor rose and
inscribed date 1576, which from the style is evidently the date of
its manufacture. The punched marks are the rose and fleur-de-lis
conjoined. A Roman capital R and maker's name CK.
A silver apostle spoon, belonging to the Rev. T. Staniforth, has
a fleur-de-lis and a rose and crown conjoined ; the old English
letter ® and maker's mark T.H.
Another silver spoon, in the same collection, has a fleur-de-lis
and rose and crown conjoined, a small black letter and a maker's
mark. Both these are of the first half of the 17th century.
A silver spoon, with heart shaped end and flat stem, of the date
1680 to 1700, has four marks : a double rose on a shield; a fleur-
de-lis in a pearled circle ; a merchant's mark and RC, which is
also of English make. This belongs to the Rev. T. Staniforth.
In the South Kensington Museum there is a silver mounted
cocoa nut cup, with date of presentation 1576, which bears the
stamps: 1st, a double rose crowned; 2nd, a star of five points;
and 3rd, a Roman capital R; of English work. A cocoa nut cup,
mounted in silver, of the 16th century, in Messrs. Hunt and
Roskell's possession, bears on the foot two stamps of the rose
crowned, as on this specimen; round the rim it has the rose
crowned and the Norwich arms of a castle and lion, with the
letter S as date mark, and evidently made at Norwich.
THE STANDARD.
The English sterling, or silver standard, which term first occurs
in the reign of Henry II., was of the fineness of 11 oz. 2 dwts. in
the pound troy, and 18 dwts. of alloy, and it has remained so,
nearly without interruption, for more than 600 years, with the
exception of a period of 20 years, from the latter end of the reign
of Henry Till, to the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth, when,
at one time it was so debased that nine ounces of alloy were
actually employed with only three ounces of silver. In the
32
•
earliest accounts in which the standard of fineness is mentioned,
it is always spoken of as the "old standard of England/' or
" esterling." The Saxon pennies were of the same standard.
In computing the standard of gold, it will be observed that the
word carat is employed. This term is used by refiners, whereby
they certify a certain composition of weights used in assaying and
computing of standard gold, and this carat contains either the
24th part of a pound or the 24th part of an ounce troy.*
The standard of gold, when first introduced into the coinage,
was of 24 carats, that is, pure gold, and from Henry III. to
Edward III. remained so ; it was subsequently 23 carats 3J grains
fine, and half a grain only of alloy. The gold was debased by
Henry VIII. to 20 carats, but it was raised to 22 carats, which
Charles II. made standard, and which still continues to be so for
coins of the realm. In the reign of Edward IV., a.d. 1477, an
Act was passed which ordained that, as the Act had been daily
broken in the manufacture of gold wares, the fineness of gold
should be fixed at 18 carats, but it was raised again to the
standard.
One pound, or one ounce^of gold must contain 22 carats of fine
gold, 1 carat of silver aud 1 carat of fine copper, which together
make 24 carats, or one pound or one ounce troy weight.
The marks for gold of 22 carats, and for silver of 11 oz. 2 dwts.
were, up to the year 1844, the same, and hence a great facility
was afforded to fraud, and, consequently, many instances occurred.
An article of silver of the standard above named, being duly
assayed and marked/ had only to be gilt, and who, but those
more skilled than ordinary purchasers, could say it was not gold ?
This was changed by 7 and S Vict. c. xxii., which required
that all wares of 22 carat gold should be marked with " a crown
and the figures 22, instead of the mark of the lion passant."
A lower standard of gold was allowed by an Act, 38 Geo. III.,
* The carat is a bean, the fruit of an Abyssinian tree called Kuara ; this bean,
from the time of its being gathered, varies very little in weight, and seems to
have been a weight for gold in Africa. In India it is used as a weight for
diamonds, as well as in Europe. It contains four grains.
In France the term denier was used to denote the fineness of silver, in the
same manner as we use the word carat for gold ; it indeed, agrees with the
English ounce. The pound is divided into twelve parts, or deniers, and each
denier or twelfth part into two oboles, or twenty-four grains.
33
1798, which was marked with a crown and the figures 18, instead
of the lion passant.
In 1854, 17 & 18 Victoria, still lower qualities of gold wares
were allowed to be made of 15, 12 and 9 carat pure gold in the
24 : stamped with figures denoting the fineness, without the
crown.
In the reign of Geo. III. the size of the leopard's head was
diminished, and about 1823 it was deprived of its crown, and
denuded of its mane and beard, — a great change from the bold
front presented in the old punches, — and it has ever since looked
more like a half-starved cat than a lion.
There are two standards for gold, and two for silver : the
manufacturer may use either at his option, informing the author^
ities at the Assay Office which he has adopted in each parcel of
goods sent to be assayed. The Standards for Gold are 22 and
18 carats of pure metal in every ounce, the ounce containing
24 carats; so that in each ounce there may be 2 or 6 carats,
(one-twelfth or quarter of the weight) of alloy. The coinage of
England is of the higher standard, 22 carats. The lower standard
is used for all manufacturing purposes, except in the case of
wedding rings, which are usually made of 22 carat gold. The
Standards for Silver are 11 oz. 10 dwts. and 11 oz. 2 dwts. of
pure metal in every pound troy. The higher standard is seldom
or never used. The silver coinage is of the lower standard.
In the year 1697, it has been seen that there was an alteration
in the standard of fineness, which was increased from 11 oz. 2 dwts.
to 11 oz. 10 dwts. in the pound troy. This better standard was
denoted by a change of stamps as follows : — 1st. The marks of the
workers to be expressed by the two first letters of their sur-names.
2. The mark of the mystery or craft of the goldsmith, which
instead of the leopard's head, was to be a lion's head erased.
3. Instead of the lion, the figure of a woman, commonly called
Britannia, was to be substituted; and, 4. A distinct variable
mark to be used by the warden of the said mystery to denote the
year in which such plate was made.-" Both these marks were
used at first by the provincial Assay Offices, but the lion's head
erased was omitted on silver of the new standard, at Sheffield
and Birmingham.
On referring to the Minutes of the Goldsmiths' Company we
find that, " On the 29th of May, 1695, new puncheons were
D
34
received, the letter for the year being t in an escutcheon." And
on " the 27th March, 1697, the puncheons for the remaining part
of this year (viz. up to the 30th May) were received, being,
according to Act of Parliament, a lyon's head erased, a Britannia,
and for the letter, the great court A in an escutcheon."
Table shewing the vaeiations of the Standard of Gold and
Silver Currency, from the Year 1210.
Assay Weights: — Gold. 4 grains = 1 carat ; 24 carats = 1 pound or 1 ounce.
Silver. 20 dwts. = l ounce ; 12 ounces = 1 pound.
GOLD.
alloy.
SILVER.
ALLOY.
A.D.
REIGN.
Carats.
Grs.
Carats.
Grs.
Ounces.
Dwts.
Ounces
. Dwts.
1210
11 John
11
2
0
18
1257
41 Henry III. ...
Fine
Gold.
none.
11
2
0
18
1300
28 Edward I. ...
11
2
0
18
1344
18 Edward III...
23
H
0
11
2
0
18
1395
18 Richard II... .
23
H
0
11
2
0
18
1401
3 Henry IV. ...
23
H
0
11
2
0
18
1422
9 Henry V. ...
23
H
0
o*
11
2
0
18
1422
1 Henry VI. ...
23
H
0
Of
11
2
0
18
1465
4 Edward IV. ...
23
H
0
11
2
0
18
1483
1 Richard III. ...
23
H
0
o*
11
2
0
18
1504
19 Henry VII. ...
23
H
0
11
2
0
18
1531
23 Henry VIII...
23
H
0
oi
11
2
0
18
1542
34 „ „ ...
23
0
1
0
10
0
2
0
1544
36 „ „ ...
22
0
2
0
6
0
6
0
1545
37 „
20
0
4
0
4
0
8
0
1548
2 Edward VI. ...
20
0
4
0
4
0
8
0
1549
3 „ „
22
0
2
0
6
0
6
0
1550
4 j> »
23
31
0
0J
3
0
9
0
1551
5 „
3
0
9
0
1552
6 „ „ ...
23
H
0
Oi
11
1
0
19
1553
Mary
23
H
0
11
1
0
19
1559
1 Elizabeth
23
H
0
o*
11
2
0
18
1603
23
H
0
11
2
0
18
1626
2 Charles I.
23
H
0
0i
11
2
0
18
1649
1 Commonwealth
22
0
2
0
11
2
0
18
1660
12 Charles II. ...
22
0
2
0
11
2
0
18
1696
7 William III....
22
0
2
0
11
2
0
18
1717
3 George I
22
0
2
0
11
2
0
18
1797
37 George III...
22
0
2
0
11
2
0
18
Note. — The Anglo-Scotch Gold Coins are all of 22 carats fine and 2 alloy.
35
ASSAY.
Manufacturers of gold and silver are required to register their
names and marks which indicate the same (usually their initials)
at the Assay Office of their district, and all articles sent in by
them to be assayed must be impressed with this maker's mark.
If they are then found to have been made in conformity with
the appointed regulations, a small quantity, not exceeding 8 troy
grains in the pound, is to be cut or scraped from them for trial of
their purity, according to the standard for which they are required
to be stamped. One moiety of the scrapings, or diet, as it is
called, is to be reserved for the assay, and the other, if the purity
prove to be correct, is to be put into that compartment of what is
called the diet box which appertains to its standard. These diet
boxes are proved once a year in the presence of a Lord of the
Treasury, and of such wardens of the several Halls as the
Government may think fit to appoint, except in the instances of
Birmingham and Sheffield, whose diet boxes are proved at the
Eoyal Mint.
The assay marks used at the Goldsmiths' Hall of London were
ordered to be the letters of the alphabet, changing every year.
We do not know with certainty when this plan was first adopted,
but it was probably as early as the time when the Goldsmiths'
Company were empowered to assay the precious metals, which
according to their ordinances, was in the year 1300. We can
trace these letters back with a degree of certainty to the fifteenth
century. This method of denoting the year in which any piece of
plate was made and assayed, by placing upon it a letter of the
alphabet, enables us at the present day to ascertain the date of its
manufacture, if assayed at the Goldsmiths' Hall of London.
Different arrangements of the letters were adopted by the
Corporations of other towns, who subsequently had the privilege
of assaying granted them. The marks of the principal towns —
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Exeter, Chester, Newcastle, Sheffield
and Birmingham, we have succeeded in establishing, and they are
given in a tabular form, through the kindness of the local autho-
rities, who readily accorded leave to examine the records.
The Goldsmiths' Hall of London employ the lettrs A to U
inclusive (omitting J.), forming a cycle of twenty years, the
character of the alphabet being varied every succeeding cycle.
D 2
36
These letters are changed on the 30th of May in every year, the
office suspending business on the two days preceding, and the
diet box being proved on the 29th. Each letter is therefore used
during the moieties of two calendar years.
In a work published in 1678, entitled ' News from the Goldsmiths,
or a Tryal of Gold and Silver Wares,3 by W. T. Goldsmith, we
are told that —
" There is a certain standard for gold and silver, according
to which standard the coins of this Kingdom (both gold and
silver) are made : and as good as that standard, all plate and
small wares in gold and silver is to be made, and that there may
be no defraud used by making any gold and silver work worse
than the standard, there is a very easy and sure way appointed
by law for the regulating those wares, the understanding of which
may be of signal benefit to all who buy and wear any sorts of
gold and silver wares whatsoever.
" As to London and the places adjacent, the Company of
Goldsmiths hath the oversight of those wares, and the tryal of
them committed to them ; and therefore three days in the week,
there is tryal made of any workman's wares (whose name and
mark is inrouled in their Assay Office) and whatsoever works they
try and find standard, is marked with these marks following :
First, the workman's mark who made the wares (which is
usually the two first letters of his christian and surname, and
every workman's mark differs from others ; the second is a
leopard's head crowned, the third is a lyon, the fourth is a single
letter (the letter which is used this present year being Wl, 1677-8) ;
and whatsoever plate or small wares have these marks on them, it
is not to be questioned but that it is sterling or standard, that is
as good as money.
" But there being several sorts of small wares, both in gold and
silver, which cannot be assayed and marked at Goldsmiths' Hall,
after it is finished : it is therefore sold with the private workman's
mark ; and to prevent defrauds in this, all workers in gold and
silver, in London and its suburbs, are required by law to make
known their marks, to the wardens of the Company of Goldsmiths,
at their Hall in Foster Lane, that one workman may not strike a
mark that is like another workman's ; and that any persons which
have wares marked with the workman's mark only, may, by
addressing themselves to the Company of Goldsmiths, find out
37
the makers of their wares; and if the wares which they have
marked, be found worse than standard, the Company of Gold-
smiths will procure the aggrieved party recompence and punish
the workman.
" The reader cannot but be satisfied of the excellency of this
way of warranting silver ; but I shall shew you how it's neglected
to the publick's great wrong. Although the wardens have power
to search any goldsmith's shops and houses, and carry away any
works which they shall make choice to try them, whether they be
standard or not, and to fine the owners if they find them worse
than standard ; yet the workers and sellers of gold and silver wares
being so numerous and dispersed in their dwellings to all parts
of the City and suburbs, it is not easie that all their small wares
can be found out, by the wardens of the Company to be tryed ;
they being sold therefore upon the bare workman's or shop-
keeper's credit, and they having the marking of these wares
themselves ; there are these evils that do follow it.
" 1. Some of their wares are not marked at all, though they
may very well bear marking (whereby they are forfeited, though
they be standard).
" 2. Some of their wares are marked with private marks, which
are not inroulled at Goldsmiths' Hall : For some of them who have
a mark inroulled at Goldsmiths' Hall will have another mark not
inroulled ; which mark they will set upon adulterated wares ; and
this counterfeit mark shall be so like the inroulled mark, that it
will not be known to be the unlawful mark by any that doth not
know what marks are inroulled and what are not; for there is
only this difference; as if I one over the other, is the mark
inroulled at Goldsmiths' Hall, then " p.b." (one by the other) may
be the counterfeit mark ; or if " s." be the inroulled mark, then
" i.s." may be the counterfeit, or any other way, according to the
workman's device," &c.
The following extract from the e Touchstone for Gold and Silver
Wares' will show what marks were in use in 1677, and the views
of the writer, himself a goldsmith, on the subject of marks : —
" The Company of Goldsmiths have caused to be made (according
to the aforesaid statutes and their Charter) puncheons of steel and
marks at the end of them, both great and small, of these several
sorts following, that is, the leopard's head crowned, the lyon ; and
a letter } which letter is changed alphabetically every year; the
reason of changing thereof is (as I conceive) for that by the
38
aforesaid recited statutes it is provided, That if any silver work
that is worse than sterling be marked with the Company's mark,
the Wardens and Corporation for the time being shall make
recompense to the party grieved, so that if any such default
should happen, they can tell by the letter on the work in what
year it was assayed and marked, and thereby know which of their
own officers deceived them, and from them obtain a recompense.
These marks are every year made new for the use of the new
wardens; and although the assaying is referred to the Assay
Master, yet the Touch Wardens look to the striking the marks.
' ' They have also made in a part of their Hall a place called by
them the Assay Office, wherein is a sworn weigher. His duty is
to weigh all silver work into the office, and enter the same into a
book kept for that purpose, and also to weigh it out again to the
owner; only four grains out of every twelve ounces that is
marked, is, according to their ancient custom, to be retained and
kept for a re-assaying once in every year, before the Lords of
the Council, in the Star Chamber at Westminster, and before a
jury of twenty-four able Goldsmiths, all the silver works they
have passed for good, the year foregoing.
" In this office is kept for pub lick view a Table or Tables,
artificially made in columns, that is to say, one column of hardened
lead, another of parchment or velom, and several of the same
sorts. In the lead columns are struck or entred the workers
marks (which are generally the first two letters of their christian
and surnames), and right against them in the parchment columns
are writ and entred the owners names, according to the intent of
the words in the Statute (2 Henry VI. 14), to wit, ' And that the
sign of every Goldsmith be known to the Wardens of the Craft/
which said warden's duty is to see that the marks be plain and of
a fit size, and not one like another, and to require the thus
entering the said marks, and also the setting them clear and
visible on all gold and silver work, not only on every work, but
also on every part thereof that is wrought apart, and afterwards
soldered and made fast thereto, in finishing the same.-"
The same work gives an engraving of the marks used by the
Goldsmiths' Company for the year 1676, viz. The Leopard's Head
crowned, the Lion passant, and the Old English Letter T of a
peculiar form, being somewhat like an L, but evidently intended
for the former, as the same is used at the head of each page in
the word " Touchstone."
39
The letter is enclosed in a pointed shield. (See Cycle 12.)
Hence we observe that tables were kept in public view in the
Assay Office of the stamps of all the gold and silver plate makers ;
their signs being struck or punched on a strip of hardened lead,
their names being written at length on parchment columns
immediately opposite, and this plan of striking the signs appears
to have been adopted and continued since 1423. Unfortunately
none of these tables have been preserved : but one very interesting
relic of the custom is in existence, namely, a large sheet of copper
closely stamped with makers' signs only, of large and small sizes,
but nothing is known of the names of the workers who used them.
The size of this copper plate is 24 by 18 in., and the inscription
on a tablet underneath, is as follows : —
" On the above PLATE are the MARKS from WORKMEN taken
at this OFFICE Prior to the Fifteenth of April A.D. 1697 of which
not any other Entry is to be found."
With the permission, kindly given by the Master, Wardens,
and Court of Assistants of the Goldsmiths' Company, we are
enabled to give, as a frontispiece to this work, a copy of this
important tablet. It will be remembered that 1697 was the
date of the Act of Parliament ordering the new standard of
11 oz. 10 dwts., and altering the marks from the lion and
leopard's head to a figure of Britannia and the lion's head erased,
and that the maker's marks were ordered to be the two first
letters of their surnames. Before that period, the mark or sign
of the workman was left to his own fancy, using a device or
monogram of his own choice ; and that the sign of every gold-
smith should be known to the Wardens of the craft — it was
struck upon a copper plate which hung in the Assay Office. By
a comparison of the maker's marks on the plate with pieces of
silver bearing corresponding stamps and the letter denoting the
year, we may safely assume that it was first used in 1675, the
date of the Goldsmiths' Order (see p. 12), and is the identical
table therein referred to, for the plate-workers to strike their
marks upon.
From the 15th of April, 1697, the stamps were placed against
the makers' names and date of entry ; and these records are
fairly preserved in volumes, bound in parchment, in the Gold-
smiths' Hall, London.
40
THE DUTY.
a.d. 1719. 6 Geo. I. A duty of sixpence per ounce troy-
was imposed on all silver plate which should be imported or
made in Great Britain.
a.d. 1758. 31 Geo. II. c. 32. The former Act was repealed,
and in lieu thereof a duty of forty shillings substituted, to be
taken out by every person trading in, selling, or vending gold or
silver plate, and the licence to be renewed annually.
a.d. 1759. 32 Geo. II. c. 14. The licence was increased to
£5. per annum for every person trading in gold plate of
two ounces, and silver of thirty ounces and upwards; persons
dealing in gold and silver, of less weight than two pennyweights
of gold, or in silver not exceeding five pennyweights, in one piece
of goods, exempted.
a.d. 1784. 24 George III. The annual licence of five pounds
continued, and a duty of sixpence per ounce was again charged
on all manufactured silver, the payment of which (as well as the
subsequent increased duties) was and is still indicated by a stamp
of the reigning sovereign's head on an oval shield.
Between the passing of this Act on the 25th of March, and St.
Dunstan's day following (the 30th of May), when the new dies for
the ensuing year were adopted, the duty stamp of the king's head,
indented or incuse was used, but only for this short period.
a.d. 1797. 37 George III. c. 90. By this Act the duty on gold
was placed at eight shillings per ounce, and silver at one shilling.
a.d. 1803. 43 George III. c. 69. The former Act of 24 Geo.
III. as regards the licence, was repealed, and new licences
appointed, viz. — For trading in gold more that two pennyweights
and under two ounces, and in silver over five pennyweights and
under thirty ounces, £2. 6s. per annum ; for trading in gold of
two ounces in weight and upwards, and in silver of thirty ounces
and upwards, £5. 15s. per annum.
a.d. 1804. 44 George III. c. 98. The duty was increased, on
gold to sixteen shillings per ounce, and silver one shilling and
three pence per ounce.
a.d. 1815. 55 George III. c. 185. By this Act the duties were
raised, on gold to seventeen shillings per ounce, on silver to
eighteen pence per ounce (calculated, not on the gross weight of
41
the articles, but on five- sixths of that weight, one- sixth being
allowed for waste in finishing), at which they still remain, watch
cases being exempt from duty by 38 Geo. III., c. 24.
Upon the exportation of plate (except gold rings and wares
under two ounces) a drawback of the whole duty is allowed, if the
plate be new and has never been used.
Gold and Silvee Articles exempt from Control of
Assay Offices.
Gold Articles (12 Geo. II. c. 26). — Jewellers' work, wherein
any jewels are set (other than mourning rings), rings, collets for
rings or other jewels, chains, necklace beads, lockets, buttons,
hollow or raised, sleeve buttons, thimbles, coral sockets and bells,
ferrils, pipe lighters, cranes for bottles, small book clasps, stock
or garter clasps jointed, very small nutmeg graters, snuff-box
rims, whereof the tops or bottoms are made of shell or stone,
sliding pencils, toothpick cases, tweezer cases, pencil cases, needle
cases, filligree work ; tippings or swages on stone or ivory cases ;
mounts, screws or stoppers to stone or glass bottles ; ornaments,
small or slight, put to amber or other eggs or urns ; seals
wrought, seals in cornelian, or other stones set therein. Any
manufacture of gold or silver so richly engraved, carved or
chased, or set with jewels, as not to admit of an assay to be
taken of, or a mark to be struck thereon, without damaging,
prejudicing, or defacing the same. Things which by reason of
their smallness or thinness are not capable of receiving the
marks, and not weighing 10 dwts. of gold or silver each.
/ J Cj £ Silver Articles (30 Geo. III. c. 31). — Chains, necklace beads,
lockets, filligree work, shirt buckles, brooches, stamped medals,
spouts to china, stone, and earthenware teapots. The foregoing
may be of any weight : — Tippings, swages, or mounts weighing
not more than 10 dwts. of silver each, except necks and collars
for castors, cruets, or glasses appertaining to any sort of stands
or frames.
All silver wares not weighing 5 dwts. of silver each are
exempt, except necks, collars and tops for castors ; cruets or
glasses appertaining to any sort of stands or frames ; buttons
for wearing apparel ; solid sleeve buttons ; solid studs not
having a bevelled edge soldered thereon ; wrought seals ; blank
42
seals, bottle tickets ; shoe clasps ; patch boxes ; salt spoons, salt
shovels, salt ladles ; tea spoons, tea strainers ; caddy ladles ;
buckles (skirt buckles or brooches before mentioned excepted) ;
pieces to garnish cabinets, or knife cases, or tea chests, or
bridles, or stands, or frames, j^m^&aj/, 4{^lz
Note. — All these articles -are excepted, and are liable to be
assayed ; and all articles liable to be assayed, except watch cases,
are chargeable with duty.
For the sake of comparison, and to show the amount of business
done at the different Assay Offices, a table is here given, taken
from a return made to Parliament in March, 1848, of the amount
in gold and silver plate, in ounces, stamped at the several Gold-
smiths' Halls in the United Kingdom in each of the last five
years, with the amount of duty paid. The statement for the year
1847 only is Us follows : —
Goldsmiths' Halls.
Gold.
Silver.
Gross Duty
ON
175. per ounce.
Is. 6d.per ounce.
AMOUNT STAMPED.
Ounces.
Ounces.
£.
8.
d.
2,276
42,985
5,158
9
10
221
379
216
17
3
294
41,597
3,369
18
7
203
12,382
1,101
12
9
Sheffield
Nil.
54,012
4,050
18
0
York
78
1,651
190
5
0
5,196
983,250
78,160
17
0
62
28,729
2,207
18
11
5
23,751
1,786
2
0
Dublin
70
20,398
1,324
16
11
Total
8,405
1,209,134
97,567
17
1
CHKONOLOGICAL TABLE OF MABKS.
1300 (28 Edw. I). Leopard's head.
1336 (Ordinance of the Goldsmiths' Company). 1. Leopard's
head crowned. 2. Owner's or goldsmith's mark. 3.
Assay er's mark, or variable letter.
1379 (2 Rich. II). 1. Goldsmith's, " his own proper mark." 2.
" Mark of the city or borough." 3. Assayer's mark,
" appointed by the King."
1424 (2 Henry YI). « Touch of the leopard's head," and
" Mark or touch of the workman."
43
1477 (16 Edw. IV). " Leopard's head crowned," and " Mark
of the worker/'
1576 (18 Eliz). 1. " The goldsmith to set his mark thereon."
2. " Tonch of the leopard's head crowned/' and " marked
by the wardens."
1597 (Minutes of Goldsmiths' Company). " Her Majesty's Lion/'
(c Alphabetical mark approved/' and " Leopard's head,
limited by statute."
1675 (Goldsmith's order). " Lion," and " Leopard's head crowned
or one of them."
1697 (8 & 9 Will. III). New Standard of Silver. « Lion's head
erased ; Figure of Britannia and the maker's mark, being
the two first letters of his surname."
1700 (12 Will. III). York, Exeter, Bristol, Chester, and Norwich
appointed to assay silver plate, and stamp it with the
marks of the lion's head erased and Britannia, and, in
addition to the marks of their cities, a variable mark or
letter in Roman character.
1702 (1 Anne). Newcastle added to the other cities for assaying
and stamping plate.
1719 (6 Geo. I). Old standard restored. The lion, leopard's
head, maker's mark and date mark, but both standards
were allowed by this Act simultaneously, varying the
respective marks.
1739 (12 Geo. II). Goldsmith's mark, "the initials of his
christian and surnames."
1773 (13 Geo. III). Birmingham and Sheffield appointed for
assaying and stamping silver plate.
1784 (24 Geo. III). Duty mark of the King's head.
1798 (38 Geo. III). Standard of 18 carat gold marked with a
crown and 18.
1824 (5 Geo. IY). Birmingham empowered to stamp gold.
1845 (7 & 8 Yict.). Gold of 22 carats to be stamped with a
crown and 22, instead of the lion pageant.
1854 (17 & 18 Yict.). Reduced standards of gold to be stamped;
15*625^ 12 ; 5; 9 : 375, for gold of 15, 12, and 9 carats.
ENGLAND.
1. — The Standard Marks.
The first mention made of the lion passant is in the records of
the Goldsmiths' Company, in May, 1597, where it is called "Her
Majesty's lion ;" it is not referred to in any statute nntil 1675.
For gold of the old standard of 22 carats, and sterling silver of
11 oz. 2 dwts., the mark is a lion passant. Previous to 1845 there
was no distinctive mark between standard gold and sterling silver.
For silver of the new standard of 11 oz. 10 dwts. the marks are
a figure of Britannia and the lion's head erased, instead of the
leopard's head and lion passant (8 Will. III. 1697).
For gold of 18 carats, a crown and the figures 18, instead of the
lion passant (38 Geo. III. 1798).
For gold of 22 carats, a crown and the figures 22, instead of
lie lion passant (7 & 8 Vict., 1845).
For gold manufactures a reduced standard (17 & 18 Vict. 1854) :
15 carats : 15 and '625 on separate stamps.
12 „ : 12 and '5
9 „ : 9 and '375
The numerals on these punches are to express, decimally, the
quantity of pure gold in the article so marked, thus : pure gold
being 24 carats.
15 carats 44 = £ = 625 parts in 1000.
12 \, if- = ± = 500
0 ^-f = 375
xne crown is i£ ed on these lower standards.
II. — The Hall Marks.
1. London. A leopard's head crowned (the ordinances of the
Goldsmiths' Company of 1336, and subsequent Acts of Parliament) .
2. York. Five lions on a cross.
45
3. Exeter. A castle with three towers.
4. Chester. Now, the mark is a sword between three garbs or
wheatsheaves, but before 1779 the shield of the city arms was
three demi-lions and a wheatsheaf on a shield.
5. Norwich. A castle and lion passant.
6. Newcastle. Three castles.
7. Sheffield. A crown.
8. Birmingham. An anchor.
III. — Duty Mark.
The head in profile of the reigning sovereign.
1784. 24 Geo. III. This mark indicates the payment of the
duty, and is impressed at the assay offices on every manufactured
article of standard gold and silver, that is liable to the duty after
payment to the officers of the Goldsmiths' Company, who are the
appointed receivers.
IY. — Date Mare.
A letter of the alphabet. Each assay office has its peculiar
alphabetical mark, indicating the year in which the plate was
assayed and stamped ; and therefore, plate that was stamped in
any other place than London, had to be, when entered for draw-
back, accompanied by a certificate of the date from the office in
which it was assayed and stamped.
In London the assay year commences on the 30th of May in
each and every year, and the date marks are continued regularly
with twenty letters of the alphabet, from A to U or Y inclusive
(but always excepting the letters J, W, X, Y, Z), which were
used in succession.
Y. — The Maker's Mark.
Formerly this was some emblem, as a rose, a crown, a star, &c,
with or without the goldsmith's initials. These marks were
ordered to be in 1363 — cc a mark of the goldsmith known by the
surveyor." In 1379, " Every Goldsmith shall have his cwn
proper mark upon the work." In 1423, " The mark or sign of
the worker." In 1675, the " Goldsmiths' order" enjoins that
46
" the plate workers shall bring their marks to Goldsmiths' Hall,
and there strike the same in a table kept in the Assay Office, and
likewise enter their names and places of habitation in a book there
kept for that purpose, whereby the persons and their marks may
be known unto the wardens of the said company (See plate.)
In 1697 (8 & 9 Will. III.), the marks of the goldsmiths were
to be expressed by the two first letters of their surnames.
1739. In 12 Geo. II. it was ordered that the makers were to
destroy their existing marks, which were the two first letters of
their surnames, and substitute the initials of their christian and
surnames.*
LONDON ASSAY OFFICE LETTEES.
By the introduction in the annexed Table, of the shield used to
enclose the letters in each cycle, much assistance is given in
ascertaining the date of a piece of plate ; but as several of the
alphabets are somewhat alike, a few remarks are appended to
each cycle to enable those who have not studied them sufficiently
to tell at a glance the peculiar variations in each. Care must be
taken in examining plate, to place the shield containing the date
letter with its pointed base downwards, or some confusion may
arise in mistaking b for q, p for cl, II for &c.
* It has been suggested that we should in this edition give the names of
the goldsmiths of London in the XVIth, XVIIth, & XVIIIth centuries, that
the initials of the makers found on ancient English plate might be referred to
their rightful owners, but we hesitated for several reasons. One of the first con-
siderations was that we have no record of the goldsmiths in London earlier than
1697, which is the earliest date in which they are registered in the company's
books. In the second place, to give a catalogue of the names and places
of abode of all the goldsmiths, silversmiths, and plate workers who have
entered their names in the Assay Office in Goldsmiths Hall, London,
since 1697, would fill volumes and be of very little service considering
how few real artists of any eminence are to be found among them. To
give some idea of the interminable nature of such a list, a reference to the
report of the Hones of Commons, when an inquiry was made into this subject
' ^;-igc Axii olio w us that the plate workers, goldsmiths, spoon
ers, haft and hilt makers and candlestick makers for that year were upwards
of 500, without counting other small workers, such as the watch case makers,
buckle makers, button makers, &c.
I v- - /
LONDON ASSAY OFFICE LETTERS. 47
CYCLE L
CYCLE 2.
CYCLE 3.
CYCLE 4.
Lombardic Capitals.
Unknown.
Lombardic.
Black Letter, Small.
HENRY VI.
EDWARD IV.
HENRY VII.
HENRY VIII.
1438-9
145o-9
1 i Wo r\
1478-9
i
i j no n
1498-9
1439-0
1459-0
1479-0
1499-0
1440-1
1460-1
1480-1
(f
1500-1
1441-2
EDWD. IV.
1461-2
B
1481-2
1501-2
1442-3
1462-3
EDWD. V.
1482-3
1502-3
1443-4
1463-4
RICHD. III.
1483-4
1503-4
1
1444-5
1464-5
1484-5
1504-5
1445- 6
1446- 7
1447- 8
1448- 9
1449- 0
1450- 1
1451- 2
1452- 3
1454-5
1465- 6
1466- 7
1467- 8
1468- 9
1469- 0
1470- 1
1471- 2
1472- 3
1 A iyq a
±4t / O-tfc
1474-5
HENRY VII.
1485- 6
1486- 7
1487- 8
1488- 9
1489- 0
1490- 1
1 A QO Q
1493- 4
1494- 5
t
f
1505- 6
1506- 7
1507- 8
1508- 9
HENRY VIII.
1509- 0
1510- 1
1511- 2
] 512-3
1 K 1 Q A
1514-5
1455-6
1475-6
1495-6
1515-6
1456-7
1476-7
1496-7
P
1516-7
1457-8
1477-8
1497-8
1517-8
Three Stamps.
Three Stamps.
Three Stamps.
1. Leopard's Head.
2. Date Mark.
3. Maker's Mark.
The stamps for this
Cycle are unknown.
1. Leopard's Head.
crowned in 1477.
2. Date Mark.
3. Maker's Mark.
No Lion passant.
No regular shield.
1. Leopard's Head cr.
2. Date Mark.
3. Maker's Mark.
No Lion passant.
No regular shield.
No Lion passant.
No regular shield.
48
LONDON ASSAY OFFICE LETTERS.
CYCLE 5.
Lombardic Capitals
HENRY VIII.
CYCLE 6.
Roman Capitals.
HEN. VIII.-MARY.
CYCLE 7.
Black Letter, Small.
ELIZABETH.
CYCLE 8.
Roman Capitals.
ELIZABETH.
m
a
E
la
V
1518- 9
1519- 0
1520- 1
1521- 2
1522- 3
1523- 4
1524- 5
1525- 6
1526- 7
1527- 8
1528- 9
1529- 0
1530- 1
1531- 2
1532- 3
1533- 4
1534- 5
1535- 6
1536- 7
1537- 8
H
1538- 9
1539- 0
1540- 1
1541- 2
1542- 3
1543- 4
1544- 5
1545- 6
1546- 7
EDWD. VI.
1547- 8
1548- 9
1549- 0
1550- 1
1551- 2
1552- 3
MARY.
1553- 4
1554- 5
1555- 6
1556- 7
1557- 8
EST
IZABETH
558- 9
559- 0
560- 1
561- 2
562- 3
563- 4
564- 5
565- 6.
566- 7
567- 8
568- 9
569- 0
570- 1
571- 2
572- 3
573- 4
574- 5
575- 6
576- 7
577- 8
w
1
1
M
m
v
Three Stamps.
1. Leopard's Head
crowned.
2. Date Mark.
3. Maker's Mark.
No Lion passant.
No escutcheons.
Four Stamps.
1. Leopard's Head cr.
2. Date Mark.
3. Maker's Mark.
4. The Lion passant
first used about 1545.
No escutcheons.
Four Stamps.
1. Leopard's Head cr.
2. Lion passant.
3. Date Mark.
4. Maker's Mark.
The date letter first put
in a shield.
Four Stamps.
1. Leopard's Head cr.
2. Lion passant.
3. Date Mark.
4. Maker's Mark.
The letter put in a regu-
lar shield.
LONDON ASSAY OFFICE LETTERS.
49
CYCLE 9.
Lombardic Caps.
JAMES I.
®
B
§
E
1
to
598- 9
599- 0
600- 1
601- 2
602- 3
JAMES I.
603- 4
604- 5
605- 6
606- 7
607- 8
608- 9
609- 0
610- 1
611- 2
612- 3
613- 4
614- 5
615- 6
616- 7
617- 8
Four Stamps.
1. Leopard's Head
crowned.
2. Lion passant.
3. Date Mark. 5
4. Maker's Mark.
The letter put in a
shield.
CYCLE 10.
Small Italics.
CHARLES I.
618- 9
619- 0
620- 1
621- 2
622- 3
623- 4
624- 5
CHARLES I
625- 6
626- 7
627- 8
628- 9
629- 0
630- 1
631- 2
632- 3
633- 4
634- 5
635- 6
636- 7
637- 8
Four Stamps.
1 . Leopard's Head cr.
2. Lion passant.
3. Date Mark.
4. Maker's Mark.
Letter in shield, as
above.
CYCLE 11.
Court Hand.
CROMWELL.
638- 9
639- 0
640- 1
641- 2
642- 3
643- 4
644- 5
645- 6
646- 7
647- 8
648- 9
COMWTH
649- 0
650- 1
651- 2
652- 3
653- 4
654- 5
655- 6
OLIVER.
656- 7
657- 8
Four Stamps.
1. Leopard's Head cr.
2. Lion passant.
3. Date Mark.
4. Maker's Mark.
Letter, in a shield, as
above.
CYCLE 12.
Black Letter Caps
CHARLES II
w
1
ID
i
if
1
658- 9
659- 0
CHAR. II.
660- 1
661- 2
662- 3
663- 4
664- 5
665- 6
666- 7
667- 8
668- 9
669- 0
670- 1
671- 2
672- 3
673- 4
674- 5
675- 6
676- 7
677- 8
Four Stamps.
1. Leopard's Header.
2. Lion passant.
3. Date Mark.
4. Maker's Mark.
CYCLE 13.
Black Letter Small,
JAS. II. & WILL. Ill
I
tmj
678- 9
679- 0
680- 1
681- 2
682- 3
683- 4
684- 5
AMES II.
685- 6
686- 7
687- 8
wi
LL.&MY
688-9
689- 0
690- 1
691- 2
692- 3
693- 4
694-5
wi
LL. III.
695-6
30 MAY
1696
TO MAR. 1697
NO LETTER
Four Stamps.
1. Leopard's Header.
2. Lion passant.
3. Date Mark.
4. Maker's Mark
The leopard's head was
large up to 1696 ; in after
years it was smaller.
* This letter, towards the end of the official year, appears to have been 'injured, as here represented, but it is also
seen quite perfect.
50
LONDON ASSAY OFFICE LETTERS.
CYCLE 14.
Court Hand.
ANNE.
MAE. to MAY
1697
ANNE
1702-3
GEORGE I
1714-5
W I 1715,
Four Stamps.
1. Britannia.
2. Lion's Head erased.
3. Date Mark.
4. Maker's Mark.
The two first letters of
the maker's surname.
CYCLE 15.
Roman Capitals.
GEORGE I. * II
1
NX
p
I
1716- 7
1717- 8
1718- 9
1719- 0
1720- 1
1721- 2
1 722- 3
1723- 4
1724- 5
1725- 6
1726- 7
GEO. II.
1727- 8
1728- 9
1729- 0
1730- 1
1731- 2
1 732- 3
1733- 4
1734- 5
1735- 6
Four Stamps.
1. Leopard's Head cr.
2 Lion passant.
3. Date Mark.
4. Maker's Mark.
The old standard re-
vived in 1720, but both
the old and new were
allowed simultaneously.
CYCLE 16.
Roman Small.
GEORGE II.
1736-7
1737-3
(Jgj
1738-9
IS
1739-0
m
1740-1
ltd
1741-2
Tift
1742-3
cSJ
1743-4
ili
1744-5
( K)
1745-6
(13
1746-7
OS)
1747-SN
1748-9
1749-0
1750-1
Of?
(S3
1751-2
1752-3
1753-4
20
1754-5
1
1755-6
Four Stamps.
. Leopard's Head cr.
2. Lion passant.
3. Date Marjt.
4. Maker's Mark.
After 1739 the initials
of maker's christian and
surname.
CYCLE 17.
Black Letter Caps
GEORGE III.
15)
I
'Hi
756- 7
757- S
758- 9
759- 0
GEO. IH.
760- J
761- 2
762- 3
763- 4
764- 5
765- 6
766- 7
767- 8
768- 9
769- 0
770- 1
771- 2-
772- 3,
773- 4
774- 5
775- 6
Four Stamps.
1. Leopard's Head cr.
2. Lion, passant.
3. Date Mark.
4. Maker's Mark.
The leopard's head
smaller after 1721 than
before.
CYCLE 18.
Roman Small.
GEORGE III.
ffl
to
c
d
Uj
CB
CD
m
m
m
au
a
s
u
Five Stamps.
1. Leopard's Head cr.
2. Lion passant.
3. Date Mark.
4. King's Head.
5. Maker's Mark
After 1784 the duty
mark of the King's he^d.
* Between the passing of this Act on the 25th March, 1784, and St. Dunstan's-day, (the 30th May
following), when the new dies for the ensuing year were adopted ; the King's head indented or incuse
was used, but only for this short pe iod.
LONDON ASSAY OFFICE LETTERS. 51
CYCLE 19.
Roman Capitals.
CYCLE 20.
Roman Small.
CYCLE 21.
Black Letter Caps. Bl
CYCLE 22.
&.ck Letter Small.
GEORGE III.
GEO. IV —WILL. IV.
VICTORIA.
VICTftDI A
fAl
1796-7
lei)
1 Q 1 ft 1
(/Ok }
1836-7 15
|J 1856-7
(B)
1 7Q7 Q
1 IV /-o
1817-8
VICTORIA. f]
1837-8 [j
V 1857-8
1 798-9
ICJ
1 Q1 o n
\m
1838-9 (J
pi
A 1858-9
(TTl
1799-0
1819-0
1839-0 [j
|J 1859-0
(v)
uk)
1 OA/1 1
loOO-l
[CJ
GEORGE IV.
1820-1
(fa
1840-1 |l
n
V} 1860-1
loUi-Z
lij
lozl-z
(4)
1Q/)1 O "J
1641-z |1
[J 1861-2
1??]
1 OAO O
1802-3
1822-3
SB
1 842- 3 [2
ft
1843- 4
If
JJ 1862-3
|J 1863-4
fR)
1 QAQ A
1 OOO /I
1823-4
ft)
1 OA /I £
1804-5
1
yy
1824-5
Ls3>J
1844-5 (j
J 1864-5
fin
1805-6
(W\
lozo-o
\M
1845-6 (1
y 1865-6
1806-7
yy
1826-7
w
1846-7 U
J 1866-7
Uylj
1807-8
jlllj
1 897 ft
1847-8 (|j
D 1867-8
fNf)
180S-9
1828-9
ft
1 O /l O A 1
1848-9 |A
Pi
V) 1868-9
(0
1809-0
1829-0
1849-0 \%
•J 1869-0
(B
1810-1
fiBr
UKI
WILLIAM IV.
1 O O A 1
1830-1
1850-1 IJ
JJ 1870-1
©
1811-2
ICTI
1831-2
[013)
1851-2
U 1S71-2
m
1812-3
®
1 832-3
i
1852-3 [}
J 1872-3
m
1813-4
®
1 833-4
1853-4 K
U 1873-4
IT)
1814-5
i
1 834-5
1854-5 il
J 1874-5.
1815-6
1 835-6
®
1855-6 (|
t] 1875-6]
Five Stamps.
1. Leopard's Head •
crowned.
2. Lion passant.
3. Date Mark.'
4. Maker's Mark. j
5. King's Head. :
Five Stamps.
1. Leopard's Head.
2. Lion. passant. '
3. Date Mark.
4. Maker's Mark.
5. King's Head.
After 1823 the leopard's
head without a crown
Five Stamps.
1. Leopard's Head. 1.
2. Lion passant. 2.
3. Date Mark. 3.
4. Maker's Mark. 4.
5. Queen's Head. 5.
Five Stamps.
Leopard's Head.
Lion passant.
Dnl-p Marie
Maker's Mark.
Queen's Head,
Note. — Large and small sized punches are used to suit the plate to be stamped ; so that from
1756 to the present day, the large stamps bear the letter in a shield as liere indicated, — the
smaller ones have the letter in a square escutcheon, the base slightly convex but not pointed, aud
the upper corners cut off.
E 2
52
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF ENGLISH PLATE.
f
With few exceptions all these examples of English plate were
exhibited at the Special Exhibition of Works of Art on Loan at the
South Kensington Museum in 1862 ; when catalogueing that
magnificent collection of plate the writer had an opportunity of
verifying the foregoing table, not only as regards the assay or
date letters, but also the forms of the escutcheons enclosing them,
a great desideratum to those who consult the table, in determin-
ing the date of a piece of plate when the characters used in the
cycles are similar.
The numbers which precede the references allude to their
places in the catalogue of that collection, where they will be
found fully described. Besides these, many other interesting and
important specimens of English silversmiths' work were dis-
played on that occasion, but they could not be included in this
list, from the fact of the marks having become illegible or
altogether obliterated, so that their exact date could not be
ascertained.
Cycle I.— May, 1438, to May, 1458.
Date. Catalogue No.
1445. H. 7767. The Grace Cup of St. Thomas-a-Becket, the cup
and cover of ivory, mounted in silver gilt, inscribed
" Vinum tuum bibe cum gaudio the ornamented
borders are of a later period. — Philip H. Howard,
Esq., of Corby.
1445. H. 7753. The Silver Spoon given by Henry VI. to Sir
Kalph Pudsey in 1463, together with his boots and
gloves, at Bolton Hall, after the battle of Hexham,
now preserved at Hornby Castle, Lancashire. —
Cajpt, Pudsey Dawson.
Cycle III.— May, 1478, to May, 1498.
1481. D. 3241a. Silver gilt Cup called the Anathema Cup, dated
1497, inscribed with the name of the donor, Langton
Bishop of Winchester, and the sentence, " Qui
alienaverit anathema sit." — Pembroke Coll., Camb.
53
Date. Catalogue Aro.
1481. D. 5725. Silver gilt low Bowl, fluted stem, inscribed,
" Benedictus Deus im Dona Suis ame," in Lom-
bard] c letters. — J". Dunn Gardner, Esq.
1487. K. Silver gilt Salt Cellar. — Christ's College, Cambridge.
1497. Y. Two small Spoons, with slender stems. — Rev. T. Stani-
forth.
Cycle IV.— May, 1498, to May, 1518.
1499. b. 5455. Grace Cup and Cover ornamented with crossed
bands, and in the panels are maidens' heads and
flagons, the badges of the Company ; on the cover
a maiden seated with a unicorn, with blue enamel
bands, &c, presented by Sir Thomas Legh. —
Mercers3 Company.
1500. C. An old English Spoon. — Painter Stainers' Company.
1506. t. Bishop Fox's Spoons, with owls at the ends of the
handles. — Corpus Christi College, Oxon.
1507. fc. 3223. Silver gilt Cup and Cover in form of a Tudor
rose, battlemented, engraved with roses, portcullises
and daisies (Marguerites), given by the foundress,
Margaret, Countess of Richmond. — Christ's Coll.,
Cambridge.
1507. fc. 3224. Pair of Silver gilt Salt Cellars, of hour-glass
form, ornamented with Tudor roses, &c.; presented
by the Foundress, the Countess of Richmond. —
Christ's College, Cambridge.
1510. n. The Mounting of a Mazer Bowl. — A. W. Franks, Esq.
1515. %. Apostle Spoon, with the maker's mark of an S. —
Dr. and Mrs. Ashford.
1515. S. 3207. Silver gilt Tazza Cup and Cover, ornamented
with stamped pattern of roses and fleurs de lis. —
Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
1516. t. Bishop Fox's Spoons, with balls at the ends of the
stems. — Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
1516. t. 3237. Set of Thirteen silver gilt Apostle Spoons, given
by Archbishop Parker to Corp. Christi Coll., Camb.
1517. b. Gothic silver Paten, parcel gilt, sunk centre ; within a
tressure of 6 arches is the head of our Saviour, a
nimbus round his head and radiating borders,
engraved and gilt. — Rev. T. Staniforth.
54
Cycle. V.— May, 1518, to May, 1538.
Date. Catalogue No.
1518. A. 5448. Salt Cellar, of hour-glass form. — Ironmongers''
Company.
1519. B. Set of Twelve Apostle Spoons, from the Bernal Collec-
tion.— Rev. T. Staniforth.
1520. C. Silver Cup. Christ's College, Cambridge,
1521. D. 5726. Old English Spoon, with fluted knob on the
stem. — J. Rainey, Esq.
1522. E. 5448. Salt Cellar, of hour-glass form. — Ironmongers'
Company.
1522. E. Spoon, with seal top, in the possession of Dr. and Mrs.
Ashford, Torquay.
1523. F. 5402. Henry VIII. *s Cup, repousse* with scrolls, fleur
de lis and rose, with bells on the bottom of the
cup. — Barber Surgeons' Company.
1523. F. 5497. Cocoa Nut Cup, silver mounted. — Vintners'
Company.
1525. H. 3239. Silver gilt Salver, given by Archbishop Parker
in 1570. — Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
1527. K Chalice and Paten, given by Henry VIII. to Sir
Thomas Pope. — Trinity College, Oxford.
1528. L. Spoon, with statuette of St. Nicholas, and three
children in a tub, of good early work ; the stem is
inscribed, SYNT • NYCOLAS • PRAY • FOR ' WS.
This spoon is supposed to have been formerly used
in the Abbey of St. Nicholas, Abingdon. — J. Dunn
Gardner, Esq.
1529. M. 3202. Mazer Bowl, silver gilt mounting.— All Souls'
College, Oxford.
1530. N. Apostle Spoon.— Rev. T. Staniforth.
1533. Q. 3204. Silver gilt Cup and Cover, double handled and
urn shaped, repousse with scrolls. — Christ's College,
Oxford.
1537. V. Apostle Spoon, with dots on the date letter as shown
on the table. — Dr. and Mrs. Ashford.
Cycle VI.— May, 1538, to May, 1558.
1539. B. Apostle Spoon.-^-Jnw Holders' Company.
1540. C. 3229. Silver gilt Cup and Cover, the latter having a
55
Date. Catalogue No.
boss of six pinnacles and a shield of arms on the
top in translucent enamel. — Christ's College, Camb.
1545. H. Spoon, with lion sejant on the end of the stem, the
leopard's head crowned in the bowl, the lion passant
on this piece is the earliest example we have met
with. — Dr. Ashford, of Torquay.
1554. R. Sir Martin Bowes' Cup, presented (according to the
Minutes) in 1561. — Goldsmiths' Company.
Cycle VII.— May, 1558, to May, 1578.
1558. a. Stone Jug, silver mounted, repousse with scrolls, fruit,
satyrs, and masks, the cover surmounted by St.
George and the Dragon ; on the handle a bifrons
maiden's head and quaint head dress. — J. Dunn
Gardner, Esq.
1560. t 3236. Circular Salt and Cover, given by Archbishop
Parker, of Canterbury, in 1570. — Corpus Christi
College, Cambridge.
1560. C. Silver mounted Stoneware Jug. — B. Temple Fr ere, Esq.
1561. ft. Apostle Spoon. — Inn Holders' Company.
1562. e. 5500. Delft Tankard, silver mounted, given by David
Gritting in 1563. — Vintners' Company.
1563. f. 5505. A large Cup and Cover, engraved with subjects
relating to the manufacture of wax, the gift of
Richard Normansell. — Wax Chandlers' Company.
1564. Q. 5412. A Square Salt, given by Roger Dunster in 1641.
— Clothw orders' Company.
1566. i. 5727. Silver gilt Chalice. — J. P. Dexter, Esq.
1568. I. 3234. Cup and Cover, richly ornamented with masks,
fruit and flowers, and female heads in relief, sur-
mounted by a nude male figure; given by Arch-
bishop Parker in 1569. — Corpus Christi College,
Cambridge.
1569. ttt. 5728. Brown Stoneware Jug, silver mounted. — Maker
I. R. — E. A. Sanford, Esq.
1569. ttt. 5729. Stoneware Jug, silver mounted. — Toovey,Esq.
1570. tt. 3235. Silver gilt Tankard, repousse with arabesques,
given by Archbishop Parker in 1571. — Corpus
Christi College, Cambridge.
56
Date. Catalogue No.
1570. XI. Silver seal-top Spoon. — Dr. and Mrs. Ashford.
1571. 0. 5730. Brown Stoneware Jug, silver mounted. — Maker
N. S. interlaced. — J. P. Dexter, Esq.
1571. o. 5731. Chalice and Paten, with engraved belt. Dated
1576. — J. Dunn Gardner, Esq.
1572. p. 5733. Earthenware Jug, silver mounted. — H. Magniac,
Esq.
1572. p. 3230. Silver gilt Tazza, with punched ornaments. —
Christ's College, Cambridge.
1573. (J. 5734. Silver Tankard, engraved with strap work and
medallions of female heads. Maker's mark, a crab,
date c. 1580.— L. Huth, Esq.
1573. q. 5735. Chalice and Paten, with engraved belt of run-
ning pattern. — J. Bainey, Esq.
1574. r. 5738. Silver Tankard. Maker's initials C. h.—Ash-
molean Museum, Oxford.
1574. r. Apostle Spoon. — Rev. T. Staniforth.
1574. r. 3237. Apostle Spoon, with St. Paul. — Corpus Christi
College, Cambridge.
1575. %. 3237. Twelve Apostle Spoons. — Corpus Christi College,
Cambridge.
1576. t. 5739. Silver Chalice and Paten. — J. Bainey, Esq.
1576. t. 5423. Simon Gibbons' square Salt. — Goldsmiths3 Com-
pany.
1577. b. 5741. Stoneware Jug, silver mounted. Maker's initials
C. C. — J. D. Gardner, Esq.
Cycle VIII.— May, 1578, to May, 1598.
1578. "A. Gilt Apostle Spoon, inscribed " A H Nata Ano Dni
1578. Octob. 10. Inter Hor. 12 et Pri. in Aurora
Susceptore Gual. Moyse." — Bev. T. Staniforth.
1578. A. 5742. Silver gilt Tankard, repousse" with fruit and
flowers, on the purchase is a mermaid. Maker's
initials E. S. — Baron Lionel de Bothschild..
1578. A. 5743. Bell-shaped Cup and Cover, engraved with
scrolls and raised masks. — W. Cozier, Esq.
1579. B. 5744. Silver gilt Tazza, chased with cartouches and
repousse helineted head. Maker H. C. a hammer
and vice. — H.B.H. the Duke of Cambridge.
57
Date. Catalogue No.
1579. B. 5745. Silver Cup, in form of a " Pelican in her piety
The stem ornamented with masks and scrolls, the
foot with hunting scenes. Maker's mark a bird.
— Sir Stephen Glynne, Bart.
1580. C. Antique Spoon, with terminal female bust. — Dr. and
Mrs. Ashford.
1580. C. 5748. Silver gilt Cup and Cover. Maker's mark H. C.
a hammer and vice. — L. Huth, Esq.
1581. D. 5746. Silver gilt Ewer and Salver, beautifully chased,
u set with oriental agates. One of the finest examples
of English plate known. Maker's mark a trefoil. —
The Duke of Rutland.
1581. D. 5750. Stoneware Jug, silver mounted. — L. Huth , Esq,
1582. E. Spoon with baluster knob. — Rev. T. Staniforth.
1583. F. 5751. Square Salt Cellar. — •Baron Lionel de Rothschild.
1584. G. 5752. Mounted Stoneware Jug. Maker's mark B. a
pellet in each space. — A. W. Franks, Esq.
1585. H.. 5753. Porcelain Yase, silver mounted. Maker's mark
three trefoil leaves. — H. Farrer, Esq.
1588. L. 5754, Ostrich Egg Cup. Maker's mark a flower.—
Earl of Home.
1589. M. Silver Chalice. — Messrs. Garrard.
1589. M. Apostle Spoon.— Rev. T. Staniforth.
1590. N. 5465. Rose-water Dish, chased with dolphins and
flowers, lions' heads, &c. The gift of William
Ofley. — Merchant Taylors3 Company.
1591. 0. Stoneware Jug, silver mounted. — Robert Napier, Esq.
1592. P. 5755. Silver gilt Cup, baluster stem. — J. P. Dexter, Esq.
1593. Q. 5756. Silver Tazza. — J". P. Dexter, Esq.
1594. R. 3206. Gilt Salt Cellar and Cover, ornamented with
repousse scrolls, &c, surmounted by an amorino. —
Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
1594. R. 5757. Stoneware Jug, silver mounted. Maker C. B.
— Hugh Owen, Esq.
1595. S. 5651. Ewer and Salver, the gift of Robert Kitchen,
broken up during the Bristol Riots. Maker I. B.
and a rose above. — Corporation of Bristol.
1597. Y. 5678. Silver Ewer and Salver of very fine work, with
sea deities and monsters, Neptune and Amphitrite,
58
i
Date. Catalogue No.
&c., the gift of Henry Howard. Maker I. N. and a
rose below. — Corporation of Norwich.
1597. V. Cup, « the gyfte of John Stuart, A.r>. 1600."— Rev. T.
Staniforth.
Cycle IX.— May, 1598, to May, 1618.
1598. A. A parcel gilt Salt Cellar. — Octavius Morgan, Esq.
1599. B. Spice Box, in three compartments. — Dr. and Mrs.
Ashford.
1599. B. 5445. Silver Cup, the gift of Grace Gwalter. — Inn
Holders3 Company.
1599. B. Apostle Spoon. — Rev. T. Staniforth.
1601. D. 5771. Silver gilt Cup, engraved with fruit and flowers.
— Earl of Derby.
1601. D. 5422. A circular Salt, the gift of Richard Rogers.
" Comptroller of his Majesty's Mint given in
1632 to the Goldsmiths' Company.
1602. E. Spoon, with seal top. — Dr. and Mrs. Ashford.
1603. F. 5772. Silver gilt Ewer and Salver.— Lord Willoughby
de Eresby.
1604. G. 5774. Silver covered Cup, engraved flowers. Maker's
mark I. H. and a bear. — Lord Willoughby de Eresby.
1604. G. Silver gilt Tankard, engraved scrolls. — L. Huth, Esq.
1605. H. 5481. The " Cockayne" loving Cups in the form of
Cocks. — The Skinners' Company.
1605. H. 5414. A Salver, the gift of John Burnell.— Cloth-
workers' Company.
1606. I. 5777. Silver gilt Salt Cellar, in form of a temple.—
R. Neville Qrenville, Esq.
1606. I. 5776. Silver Cup, with punched ornaments. — Sir
T. W. Holburne, Bart.
1607. K. A silver gilt Ewer and Salver, with square escutcheons
of repousse flowers and engraved interlaced designs
between. — Louis Huth, Esq.
1607. K. Apostle Spoon.— Rev. T. Staniforth.
1608. L. An old English Spoon. — R. Temple Frere, Esq.
1608. L. 3231. Silver gilt Tazza, on baluster stem. — Christ's
College, Cambridge
1609. M. 3231, Silver gilt Tazza, of similar character to the
preceding. — Christ's College, Cambridge.
59
Date. Catalogue No.
1610. N. An old English Spoon. — Octavius Morgan, Esq.
1610. N. An old English Spoon.— Rev. T. Staniforth.
1611. O. 5406. A tall standing Cup and Cover. — Broderers*
Company.
1611. O. 5407. A standing Cup, the gift of John Reeves. —
Carpenters3 Company.
1612. P. A small Paten in Derry Cathedral. — Communicated by
Mrs. Dorothea Alexander, of Blackhill, Coleraine.
1613. Q. 5778. Silver gilt Spice Box. Maker's mark, a bow
between I. T. — Sir T. W. Holburne, Bart.
1614. R. 5440. Silver gilt circular Salt, given by John Sweete,
1635. — Inn Holders' Company.
1614. R. Two Apostle Spoons. — Rev. T. Staniforth.
1615. S. 3244. Tall Cup and Cover, surmounted by a statuette
of Hercules. — St. John's College, Cambridge.
1616. T. 5779. Salver, repousse subject of Alexander and Darius.
Maker's mark, a trefoil leaf. — Sir T. W. Holburne.
1616. T. Dish, inscribed " The dishes of the Arch Duke gotten
at the battle of Newport e," and " Taken by the
Lord Yiscount Wimbaldon in the year 1600." — C.
Winn, Esq.
1617. V. 5781. Silver Beaker, engraved with roses, thistles,
and pomegranates. — J. P. Dexter, Esq.
Cycle X.— May, 1618, to May, 1638.
1618. a. 5680. Tall silver gilt Tankard, repousse with strap
work and medallions of sea monsters and the arms
of Norwich, of fine work. — Corporation of Norwich.
1618. a. Lofty silver Beaker and Cover, engraved with im-
bricated pattern, surmounted by a female figure,
inscribed "The gyfte of Sir William Cockayne,
sonne of Roger Cockayne, of Baddesley, Warwick-
shire, 1619."— E. C. Baring, Esq.
1619. b. Silver Communion Plates. — All Souls' Coll., Oxford.
1620. c. Salt Cellar, with double receptacles and open covers,
surmounted by an obelisk. — Dr. G. W. Dasent.
1621. d. 5782. Pair of silver gilt Tankards, given by Richard
Wyatt, citizen and carpenter. Maker I. C. — W.
Cozier, Esq.
60
Date. Catalogue No.
1622. e. Apostle Spoon. — W. Stirling, Esq., of Keir.
1622. e. Apostle Spoon. — Inn Holders' Company.
1622. e. Chalice and Paten. — St. Antholin's Churchy City.
1623. /. 5470. The Camden Cup and Cover, repousse with
leaves and inscription. — Painter Stainers' Company.
1624. g. Silver Paten at Mark, Somersetshire.
1625. h. 5784. Silver gilt Cup, the gift of Kichard Chester to
the Corporation. Maker T. F. — Viscount Clifden.
1626. i. 5482. Kosewater Dish, the gift of Francis Couell. — •
Skinners' Company.
1626. L 5439. Two Salts, given by John Wetterworth.—
Skinners' Company.
1627. k. Six Silver Apostle Spoons, given in the same year. —
Innholders' Company.
1628. I. Two Apostle Spoons. — J. P. Dexter, Esq.
1 629. m. The Ivatt Cup, given in the same year. — Haberdashers3
Company.
1630. n. Silver Chalice. — Queen's College, Oxford.
1631. o. Silver Chalice. — Broomfield Church, Kent.
1632. p. Silver Chalice and Paten. — St. James's Church, Dover.
1633. q. Large Silver Flagon. — Corporation of Bristol.
1634. r. 5650. Pair of Tankards, given by John Dodridge. —
Corporation of Bristol.
1635. s. 5433. Circular Salt, the gift of Sir Hugh Hammersley,
Knt. — Haberdashers' Company.
1635. s. Apostle Spoon, inscribed with date of presentation,
1635.— Bev. T. Staniforth.
1636. t. Apostle Spoon. — G. H. Head, Esq.
1636. t. Apostle Spoon, inscribed with date of presentation,
1637.— Bev. T. Staniforth.
1637. v. Apostle Spoon, 1637.— Bev. T. Staniforth.
1637. v. 5438. Loving Cup, repousse work, inscribed "Fides
ex Charitate agens valet." — Haberdashers' Company.
Cycle XI.— May, 1638, to May, 1658.
1638. * A. A two-handled Cup and Cover, embossed with flowers. —
South Kensington Museum.
* The stamp of the church-text A on some of these pieces, towards the end
of the official year, appears to have been injured.
61
Date. Catalogue No.
1638. A. 54-58. Circular Salt, of hour-glass form. — Mercers3
Company.
1639. B. 5493. Loving Cup, the gift of Eobert Bateman,
Chamberlain of London. — Skinners3 Comjpany.
1639. B. 5785. Two Wine Cups, the gift of John Harris to the
Company of Taylors, Oxford, in 1639. — J". Dunn
Gardiner, Esq.
1640. C. 5452. Four Cups, the gift of Ceorge Humble in
1640. — Leathersellers9 Company.
1641. D. 5787. Cup and Cover. Maker R.M. — Viscount CUfden.
1646. /. Silver Spoon. — Rev. T. Staniforth,
1649. M. 5417. Tankard, the gift of W. Clissworth, 1661.—
Coopers' Company
1650. N. 5491. Cup, the gift of George Breton. — Skinners3
Company.
1651. O. 5667. Four Apostle Spoons. — Corporation of Hedon.
1652. P. 5788. Covered Cup, said to have been given by Oliver
Cromwell to his daughter Lady Fauconberg.
Maker E. S. — Paul Butler, Esq.
1653. Q. 5504. Cup and Cover, the gift of Thomas Bloodworth
in 1682. — Vintners3 Company.
1653. Q. 5789. Silver Ladle.— Sir T. W. Holburne, Bart.
1654. R. Apostle Spoon. — Rev. T. Staniforth.
1655. .S. 5791. Silver Cup, given by Christopher Pym to the
Blacksmiths' Company, inscribed " By hammer and
hand, all arts do stand." Maker I. W. — J. P.
Dexter, Esq.
1655. vS. 5790. Tankard. — J. Dunn Gardner, Esq.
1656. T. Old English Spoon.— Rev. T. Staniforth.
1657. V. Apostle Spoon. — Inn Solders3 Company.
Cycle XII.— May, 1658, to May, 1678.
1658. 5444. Silver gilt Cup, the gift of Edward Osborne.—
Inn Holders3 Company.
1659. 33. 5665. Large Mace, the gift of Henry Gruy. — Corporation
of Hedon.
1660. (&. 5655. Silver Mace. — Corporation of Doncaster,
1661. 39. Three Apostle Spoons. — Inn Holders3 Company.
62
Date. Catalogue No.
1662. (&. 5794. Silver Salver, repousse with the labours of
Hercules and trophies of arms. — Baron Lionel de
Rothschild.
1662. <&. 5901. Large Salver.— Earl Spencer.
1663. jf. A Silver Grace Cup. — Goldsmiths9 Company.
1664. 5795. Silver Cup.— Paul Butler, Esq.
1665. f% Cup given by Charles II. to the Corporation of Oxford.
1666. 3L Embossed Silver Cup. — Sir Charles Morgan, Bart.
1667. It. An Old English Spoon.— 0. Morgan, Esq., M.P.
1668. %. Kosewater Dish of the same date. — Queen's College,
Oxford.
1669. JW. Two-handled Bowl and Cover. — Sir C. Morgan, Bart.
1669. Jill. Cup and Cover engraved with the Royal Arms and the
arms of Robertus Creyghtonus; on the cover is
inscribed " Ex donis Caroli Secundi Regis. " — Dr.
and Mrs. Ashford.
1670. jBt Porringer, inscribed 1670. — Queen' College, Oxford.
1671. O. Communion Plate. — Westminster Abbey.
1672. ^. 5683. Two Tankards, the gift of Thomas Bawtrey
Lord Mayor of the City of York in 1673. — Corpo-
ration of York.
1673. 5796. Covered Cup. Maker I. K In fine gold, plain
with scroll handles, coiled serpent on the cover.
(Hall Marks the same as on silver). — J. W. Walrond,
Esq.
1674. 3ft. 5799. Two-handled Cup, the gift of Sir John Cutler
to Charles Lush. Maker I. N. — Paul Butler, Esq.
1674. 3ft. 5797. Two Cups fitting into each other, matted sur-
face.— W. B. Stopford, Esq.
1675. £>. 5800. Set of 3 Castors. Maker R.A.— /. Bainey, Esq.
1676. Cup and Cover with two handles. — S. K. Museum.
1676. Silver Tankard. — Corporation of Oxford.
1677. V. 8103. Cup.— Messrs. Hunt and Boskell.
Cycle XIII.— May, 1678, to March, 1697.
1678. a. 5803. Two-handled Cup, chased with leaves.—/. P.
Dexter, Esq.
1679. b. 5804. Silver Ladle.—/. P. Dexter, Esq.
1680. C. 5461. The " Brett" Loving Cup and Cover.— Merchant
Taylors' Company.
63
Date. Catalogue No.
1681. tf. 5806. Large Silver Cistern, the handles in form of
peacocks, resting on four lions' claws, weighing
2000 ounces. Maker R. L. — Duke of Rutland.
1682. t 5807. Tankard.— Sir T. W. Holburne, Bart.
1682. c. Two Spoons with heart-shaped ends. — Rev. T. Staniforth.
1683. f. 5808. Silver Tazza with figures in the centre, of
Jupiter, Diana, &c. Maker W. F. — Sir W. C.
Trevelyan, Bart.
1683. f. Oval Casket and Cover, engraved with Chinese figures,
birds, &c. — South Kensington Museum.
1683. f. Basin engraved with Chinese figures, trees, fountains
and birds. — Dunn Gardner , Esq.
1684. g. 5809. Covered Bowl, pounced with Chinese figures,
Maker I. I. and lis. — Sir T. W. Holburne, Bart.
1685. j). Silver Tankard. — Messrs. Garrard.
1686. t. 5495. Tankard, the gift of James Langdon Reynolds.
Maker I. R. crowned. — Skinners' Company.
1687 ft. Mace with the Arms of James II. — Mayor and Corpo-
ration of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
1688. I. 5810. Circular Salver, engraved with Chinese figures.
— J. P. Dexter, Esq.
1688. I. 5811. Pair of Candlesticks, in form of architectural
columns. — W. Maskell, Esq.
1689. ttt. Spoon with heart-shaped end. — Rev. T. Staniforth.
1690. n. 5813. Silver Tankard, the Cover in form of a helmet
repousse with trophies, &c. Maker Gr. G. — Baron
Lionel de Rothschild.
1691. 0. Embossed Altar Candlesticks. — Westminster Abbey.
1692. p. Silver Cup. — Jesus College, Oxford.
1693. (J. Pair of Wine Cups. — J". Dunn Gardner, Esq.
1694. t. Silver Loving Cup. — Mercers3 Company.
1695. %. 5815. Silver Cup of Richard Deeble, 1724. — P. W.
Doyle, Esq.
1696. t. 5816. A pair of Fire Dogs at Hampton Court.
Maker M. A. — Her Majesty the Queen.
Cycle XIV.— March, 1697, to May, 1716.
1697. A. 5817. Tea Pot of rock-work, vine-leaves and grapes.
— Sir T. W. Holburne, Bart.
64
Date. Catalogue No.
1697. B. 5818. Silver-gilt Cup with Cover, on the top the Eoyal
Arms and W. R. Ill ; and a pair of large pricket
Candlesticks on tripod stems, with the Royal
Arms of W. III. Maker DB—The Duke of Man-
chester.
1698. C. 5821. Pair of silver-gilt Candlesticks. — Rev. G. Jepson.
1699. D. Silver Candlesticks— C. H. Leigh, Esq.
1 700. E. 5902. Helmet- shaped Ewer, engraved with the Royal
Arms of William III. Maker H. A. (H. Auguste ?).
— Lord Willoughby de Eresby.
1700. E. 5898. Large Silver Fountain, engraved with the Marl-
borough arms. Maker H. A. (H. Auguste?). — Earl
Spencer.
1701. F. 5894. Two Ewers and Salvers, engraved with the
Marlborough arms ; and large Cistern weighing
1920 ounces. Marlborough plate. Maker IT. A.
— zss- (Henri Auguste ?). — Earl Spencer.
1701. F. 5$96. Pair of massive Flagons. Marlborough plate
Maker G. O. crowned. — Earl Spencer.
1701. F. 5907. Ewer and Salver. Maker W. I two stars above
and lis below. — Marquess of Abercorn.
1702. G. 5910. Helmet-shaped Ewer with female bust handle,
engraved with the Royal Arms and motto " Semper
eadem." Maker M. E. — Lord Willoughby de Eresby.
1703. H. 5911. Tureen. Maker Ne. — Lord Bat eman.
1703. H. Silver Porringer. — R. Temple Frere, Esq.
1704. /. Silver Porringer. — R. Temple Frere, Esq.
1705. K. 5912. Two-handled Cup and Cover, with the Royal
Arms, presented by Queen Anne to Sir John Leake.
— Raul Butler, Esq.
1706. L. 5913. Gilt Communion Service, the salver engraved
with the descent from the cross. — Earl of Stamford
and Warrington.
1706. L. 5449. Loving Cup, given by William Humphreys. —
Ironmongers' Company.
1707. M. Old English Spoon.— 0. Morgan, Esq, M.P.
1 708. N. The Goldsmiths' Company's Minutes.
1709. O. Silver Porringer. — R. Temple Frere, Esq.
1710. P. Silver Porringer. — R. Temple Frere, Esq.
65
Date* Catalogue No.
1711. Q. 5914. Four circular Salt Cellars. Maker P. A. under
a rose. — W. Maslcell, Esq.
1712. R. 5450. Loving Cup, the gift of Eandulph Lane, in the
same year. — Ironmongers9 Company.
1713. S. Silver Tankard. — J. Dunn Gardner, Esq.
1714. T. 5432. Loving Cup, the gift of Hugh Kadcliffe.—
Haberdashers3 Company.
1715. V. Six Spoons.— Rev. T. Staniforth.
Cycle XV.— May, 1716, to May, 1736.
1 71 7. B. Silver Monteith or punch bowl, with a detached escallop
rim. — J". G. Fanshawe, Esq.
1717. B. Silver Porringer. — R. Temple Frere, Esq.
1718. C. 5919. Silver Waiter.—/. P. Dexter, Esq.
1718. C. 5920. Silver Basin and Cover. Maker W. I. two stars
and lis. — W. Stirling, Esq., of Keir.
1719. D. 5921. Pair of covered Cups, chased with scrolls and
head of Bacchus. — Earl of Stamford and Warrington.
1720. E. 5657. Sugar Tongs. — Corporation of Doncaster.
1721. F. 5677. Cup, the gift of John Kirkpatrick. — Corporation
of Norwich.
1722. G. Silver Paten. — Crowhurst Church.
1 725. K. 6005. Silver gilt Oar, a copy of a more ancient one of
the time of Queen Elizabeth, 3 ft. 3 in. long
inscribed, " This oar, a badge of authority used by
the ancient Corporation of Boston, was sold by the
modern Town Council in 1832, and purchased by
Francis Thurkill,Esq., an Alderman of that Borough,
by whose widow it was presented in 1840 to the
Earl Brownlow." — Earl Brownlow.
1727. M. 5923. Helmet-shaped Ewer, engraved with the arms
of George I. — J. P. Dexter, Esq.
1728. N. 5928. Gilt Toilet Service. Maker I. h.—Earl of Stam-
ford and Warrington.
1729. O. 5929. Silver Basin, scrolls and flowers. — Lord Bateman.
1732. E. 5934. Pair of gilt Tankards. Maker P. L. (*Paul
Lamerie) star and crown above, lis below. — Earl of
Stamford and Warrington.
* The first entry of Paul de Lamerie in the mark book of the Goldsmiths
Hall occurs in 1712, when he resided at the Golden Ball in Windmill Street, in
the Haymarket. In 1739 he removed to Garard Street, or Gerard Street, Soho.
His mark was P. L. crowned, being the Crown Goldsmith.
F
66
Date. Catalogue No.
1733. S. 5938. Bread Basket, of wicker pattern. Maker P. L.
(Paul Lamerie), crown and star above, lis below. —
/. Dunn Gardner j Esq.
1734. T. 5671. The Walpole Mace. Maker T. R — Corporation
of Norwich.
1735. V. Tea Pot, melon-shaped, chased with shells and flowers.
Dunn Gardne/r, Esq.
Cycle XVI.— May, 1736, to May, 1756.
1736. a. Sacramental Flagon. — Crowhurst Church.
1737. b. 5939. Chalice and Paten. — Messrs. Hunt and Roshell.
1739. d. Spoon, the stem surmounted by a group representing
Charity. — Hon. G. Mostyn.
1740. e. 5426. Pair of Vases and Covers, chased with Deities
and emblems of the arts and sciences, scroll handles
of terminal figures. Maker's initials T. T. — Gold-
smiths3 Company.
1741. f. 5424. A large Ewer and Salver, handsomely chased
with Heathen Deities, Minerva holding a scroll
inscribed, " By prudence and good management I
am restored," by Paul Lamerie. — Goldsmiths'
Company.
1742. g. 5940. Silver Cup and Cover, elaborately chased. Maker
P. L. (Paul Lamerie) crown and star above, lis
below. — Messrs. Hunt and Roshell.
1743. h. 5941. Pair of Silver Dishes. Maker N. S., star above.
— Her Majesty the Queen.
1747. m. 5943. Pair of Tortoiseshell Caddies, silver-mounted,
ornamented with repousse work in figures, scrolls,
&c. Maker P. L. (Paul Lamerie) crown and star
above, lis below. — J. Dunn Gardner , Esq.
1 748. n. Pair of Vases and Covers, with acanthus leaf ornament.
Jos. Bond 3 Esq.
1 750. p. 5944. Cruet Stand, by Paul Lamerie. — J. Dunn
Gardner, Esq.
1752. r. 5649. State Sword. — Corporation of Bristol.
1753. s. 5945. Set of Castors. — W. Stirling, Esq., of Keir.
1754. t. 5948. Two Tea Caddies. Maker M. F.—Earl of
Stamford and Warrington.
1755. u. 5950. Milk Pot, repousse with vine leaves and grapes.
Maker P. B, — Sir T. W. Holburne, Bart.
67
Date. Catalogue No.
Cycle XVII— May, 1756, to May, 1776.
1756. 5951. Tea Kettle, gourd- shaped, engraved with land-
scapes and figures ; on a stand. — J. D. Gardner, Esq.
1758. <£. 5952. Ewer. Maker T. H. — 0. E. Coope, Esq.
1759. 39. A two-handled Yase, No. 9145; and a Coffee Pot,
393, '64. — South Kensington Museum.
1760. Q&. Jug, plain with ribbed neck. — J. JD. Gardner, Esq.
1761. jp. 5953. Bread Basket, of pierced work and arms of
George III. — Her Majesty the Queen.
1765. 5961. Tea Kettle and Milk Pot. Maker I. K. crowned.
Lord Bateman.
1 765. 5t Silver Tankard.— Dr. and Mrs. Ashford.
1 767. iil 5963. Two small Waiters.— Lord Bateman.
1768. JJ. Coffee Pot, repousse with flowers and love knots. —
J". D. Gardner, Esq.
1770. 5965. Gilt Ewer and Cover. Maker's mark S. 0 :1. C.
— Sir T. W. Holburne, Bart.
1771. 5966. Tankard. — W. Stirling, Esq., of Keir.
1772. 5967. Pair of Pillar Candlesticks.— Lord Bateman.
1772. 3ft. Pluted Vase and Cover, satyr head handles, festoons,
&c, fluted body, square foot. — S. K. Museum.
1773. Jfc. Tea Kettle and Stand, chased with foliage, by Paul
Lamerie. — Messrs. Hancock.
1774. ®. Candlestick. Brett Collection.— W. Meyricl, Esq.
Cycle XVIII.— May, 1776, to May, 1796.
1776. a. Pair of Candlesticks, in form of figures holding flowers.
— Messrs. Hancock.
1778. c. Set of three Vases, designed by Adams. — Percy
Doyle, Esq.
1779. d. 5969. Pair of Vases, openwork body with rams' heads
and festoons. — J. W. Brett, Esq.
1780. e. Cream Jug, repousse with flowers and scrolls, stalk
handle. — J". D. Gardner, Esq.
1785. k. Pair of Salts, open ribs, festoons and lions' heads. —
J. D. Gardner, Esq.
1786. 1. 5971. Pair of Cups, with ivory plaques. Maker I. B.
— Her Majesty the Queen.
1788. n. 5976. Silver gilt Salt Cellars. Maker's mark M. N :
E. G. — Lord Bateman.
1792. r. 5978. Silver Globe Inkstand.— J. W. Brett, Esq.
i 2
68
CHESTER ASSAY OFFICE LETTERS.
CYCLE 1.
CYCLE 2.
CYCLE 3.
CYCLE 4.
CYCLE 5. j
a*
1689-0
A*
1701-2
1726-7
a
1752-3
a
1777-8
b*
1690-1
(B|
1702-3
m
1727-8
b
1753-4
b
1778-9
c*
1691-2
m
1703-4
?*
1728-9
c
1754-5
c
1779-0
d
1692-3
m
1704-5
1729-0
a
1755-6
a
1780-1
e
1693-4
m
1705-6
i
1730-1
e
1756-7
e
1781-2
f
1694-5
m
1706-7
1731-2
f*
1757-8
f
1782-3
g
1695-6
1707-8
1732-3
g
1758-9
g
1783-4
h
1696-7
m
1708-9
$
1733-4
h
1759-0
h
1784-5
V , J
lh
1709-0
j-
1734-5
i*
1760-1
i*
1785-6
m
1710-1
I
1735-6
j
1761-2
k
1786-7
E
1711-2
1736-7
k
1762-3
1
1787-8
m
1712-3
1737-8
1
1763-4
m
1788-9
m
(o)
1713- 4
1714- 5
1738- 9
1739- 0
m*
n
1764- 5
1765- 6
n
o
1789- 0
1790- 1
Character
unknown.
of letter
(P)
Q
1715-6
1740-1
0
1766-7
T)
F
1791-2
In a Min
ute of 1686,
1716-7
1741-2
p
1767-8
1792-3
three mar ks only are
m
1742-3
1768-9
r
1793 4
mentioned.
From 16,97 tol701 the
[Rj
17178
m
1743-4
q
s*
1794-5
new Stan
stamped
not in the
dard was only
in London,
Provinces
m
1718 9
1744-5
r
1769-0
t
1795-6
m
1719-0
1745-6
b
1 i ( U-l
n
[til
1720-1
1746-7
t
1771-2
l¥)
1721-2
1747-8
U*
1772-3
The Sta
City Arm
mp of the old
s of 3 demi-
El
1722-3
w
1748-9
W
1773-4
lions and
garb, changed
to a new
Stamp of a
/ N
m
1723-4
/7l/s,
C/fO
1749-0
X
1774-5
dagger
garbs.
between three
(y;
1724-5
<w
1750-1
y
1775-6
iz:
1725-6
1751-2
z
1776-7
Three Marks.
1. City Arms.
2. Date letter.
3. Maker.
Five Marks.
1. Lion's head erased
2. Britannia.
3. Old City Arms.
4. Date letter.
5. Maker, the two
first letters of his
surname.
In 1720 the old
marks revived.
Five Marks.
1. Lion passant.
2. Leopard's head.
3. Old City Arms.
4. Date letter.
5. Maker, theN ini-
tials of Christian
and surname.
These letters are not
fac-similes.
Five Marks.
1. Lion passant.
2. Leopard's head.
3. Old City Arms.
4. Date letter.
5. Maker, as before.
Six Marks.
1. Lion passant.
2. Leopard's head.
3. New City Arms
4. Date letter.
5. Duty mark in
1784.
6. Maker's mark.
Note.— The letters, with few exceptions, are placed in square escutcheons, with the corners cut off.
CHESTER ASSAY OFFICE LETTERS. 69
CYCLE 6.
CYCLE 7.
CYCLE 8.
CYCLE 9.
1797-8
A*
1818-9
1839-0
a*
1864-5
m
1798-9
B
1819-0
1840-1
i)
1865-6
1799-0
C
1820-1
c
1841-2
c
1866-7
1800-1
D*
1821-2
1842-3
ti
1867-8
1801-2
E
1822-3
e
1843-4
e
1868-9
1802-3
F*
1823-4
1844-5
f
1869-0
1803-4
Gr
1824-5
1845-6
S
1870-1
1804-5
H*
1825-6
i>
1846-7
1871-2
1805-6
I
1826-7
3
1847-8
t
1872-3
1806-7
K
1827-8
1848-9
1873-4
1807-8
L
1828-9
1849-0
i
1874-5
1808-9
M
1829-0
m
1850-1
m
1875-6
ft »
1809-0
N
1830-1
1851-2
n
1876-7
1810-1
0
1831-2
1852-3
0
1877-8
1811-2
P
1832-3
$
1853-4
P
1878-9
1812-3
Q
1833-4
1854-5
1879-0
m
1813-4
E
1834-5
1855-6
X
1880-1
<&>
1814-5
S
1835-6
&
1856-7
1881-2
1815-6
T
1836-7
%
1857-8
t
1882-3
1816-7
U
1837-8
m
1858-9
u
1883-4
V
1817-8
V
1838-9
1859-0
1860-1
t
1861-2
i
1862-3
%
1863-4
Six Marks.
1. Lion passant.
2. Leopard's head.
3. New City Arms. .
4. Duty mark. -
5. Date mark.:
6. Maker.
These letters are not
fae-similes. n
Six Marks.
1. Lion passant.
2. Leopard's head.
3. New City Arms.
4. Duty mark.
5. Date mark.
6. Maker.
Five Marks.
1. Lion passant.
°Z. New City Arms.
3. Duty mark.
4. Date mark.
5. Maker.
(The leopard's head
discontinued 1839.)
Five Marks.
1. Lion passant.
2. New City Anns.
3. Duty mark.
4. Date mark.
5. Maker.
Note. — The letters marked with an asterisk are verified by the minutes or examples of plate.
70
EXETER ASSAY OFFICE LETTERS.
CYCLE 1.
CYCLE 2.
CYCLE 3.
i CYCLE 4.
A
AUGUST
a
AUGUST
A
AUGUST
AUGUST
1701-2
1725-6
1 749-0
(a)
III 6-0.
c
1 702-3
b
1726-7
B
1 7^0 1
u
1 TT/l K
III 1-0
1703-4
c
1727-8
c
1751-2
n
1775-6
d
1728-9
D
1752-3
d
1 776-7
1 / / u- /
E
1 70^
e
1729-0
E
1753-4
1777-fi
F
1706-7
^ —
1730-1
F
1754-5
f
1778-9
G
1 707-8
1731-2
G
1755-6
1 77Q 0
h
1732-3
H
1756-7
h
1780-1
I
1 THQ ft
•
1733-4
I
K
1757-8
•
i
1781-2
IKJ
i 7 1 n i
k
1734-5
1758-9
k
1782-3
T,
1/1 1-z
1
1735-6
L
1759-0
1
1783-4
M
JLVx.
1 71 0 Q
m
1736-7
M
N
O
1760-1
in
1784-5
1 T 1 Q A
n
1737-8
1761-2
n
1785-6
o
X / J 1 J
o
1738-9
1762-3
o
1786-7
p
1 71 £ £
D
r
1739-0
P
1763-4
13
r
1787-8
o
1 71 £ 7
J / ID-/
Q
1740-1
Q
1764-5
Q
1788-9
-IV
1 71 7-8
r
1741-2
R
1765-6
r
1789-0
1718-9
f
1742-3
S
1766-7
UJ
1790-1
T
JL
1719-0
t
1743-4
T
1767-8
t
1791-2
v
V
1720-1
V
T
1744-5
V
1768-9
V
1792-3
W
1 TO 1 O
1 / Z I -Z
W
1745-6
W
1769-0
1793-4
X
1722-3
X
1746-7
X
1770-1
1794-5
Y
1723-4
y
1747-8.
Y
1771-2
1795-6
Z
1724-5
z
1748-9
Z
1772-3
z
1796-7
Five Stamps.
Lion's Head erased.
Britannia.
Castle.
Date Mark.
5. Maker's Initials.
After 1719 the marks of
Five Stamps.
1. Lion passant.
2. Leopard's Head.
3. Castle.
4. Date Mark.
5. Maker's Initials,
old standard resumed."1
Five Stamps.
1. Lion passant.
2. Leopard's Head.
3. Castle.
4. Date Mark.
5. Maker's Initials.
Five Stamps.
1. Lion passant.
2. Castle.
3. Date Mark.
4. Maker's Initials.
5. Duty mark of King's
Head, 1784.
Notes. — The early Hall Mark previous to 1800 has only two towers to the castle, the left one
shorter than the other, with some object on the top.
The letters in the two first Cycles are mostly on regular shields with pointed bases,
the subsequent letters are on square shields, with the corners slightly cut off as a
rule, but there are some exceptions. The letters placed in shields are examples in
Dr. Ash ford's possession.
EXETER ASSAY OFFICE LETTERS. 71
CYCLE 5. |
CYCLE 6.
CYCLE 7.
CYCLE 8.
®
AUGUST
1797-8
[aj
AUGUST
1817-8
3D
AUGUST
1837-8
(A)
AUGUST
1857-8
1798-9
D
1818-9
1838-9
1>
JD
1858-9
C
1799-0
C
1819-0
C
1839-0
c
1859-0
1)
1800-1
,1
CL
1820-1
1840-1
JJ
1860-1
E
1801-2
e
1821-2
e
1841-2
E
1861-2
h
1802-3
I
1822-3
1842-3
r
1862-3
G
1803-4
g
1823-4
0
1843-4
G
1863-4
fT
H
1804-5
n
•
1824-5
1844-5
TT
1864-5
1
1805-6
l
1825-6
. mat
3
1845-6
1
1865-6
1806-7
K
1826-7
n
1846-7
1866-7
T
1807-8
1
1
1827-8
%
1847-8
T
JL
1867-8
i\/r
M
i oao n
1808-9
111
1828-9
1848-9
i\/r
i\l
1868-9
AT
JN
1809-0
n
1829-0
#
1849-0
JN
1869-0
O
1810-1
o
1830-1
1850-1
O
1870-1
Jr
1811-2
P
1831-2
1851-2
1871-2
O
1812-3
Q
±
1832-3
1 ooz-o
O
1872-3
R
1813-4
r
1833-4
1853-4
R
1873-4
S
1814-5
s
1834-5
1854-5
S
1874-5
T
1815-6
t
1835-6
c
1855-6
T
1875-6
U
1816-7
u
1836-7
1856-7
U
1876-7
Five Stamps.
Five Stamps.
Five Stamps.
Five Stamps.
1. Lion passant.
2. Castle.
3. King's Head.
4. Date Letter.
5. Maker's Initials.
1. Lion passant.
2. Castle.
3. King's Head.
4. Date Letter.
5. Maker's Initials.
1. Lion passant.
2. Castle.
3. Queen's Head.
4. Date Letter.
5. Maker's Initials.
1. Lion passant.
2. Castle.
3. Queen's Head.
4. Date Letter.
5. Maker's Initials.
72 NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE ASSAY OFFICE LETTERS.
CYCLE 1.
CYCLE 2.
CYCLE 3.
CYCLE 4.
A
1702-3
%
1721-2
A
1740-1
1769-0
B
1703-4
1722-3
B
1741-2
m
1770-1
C
1704-5
<E
1723-4
C
1742-3
1771-2
D
1705-6
D
1724-5
D
1743-4
1772-3
E
1706-7
1725-6
E
1744-5
1773-4
F
1707-8
f
1726-7
F
1745-6
1774-5
G
1708-9
(5
1727-8
G
1746-7
1775-6
H
1709-0
1728-9
H
1747-8
1776-7
I
1710-1
1
1729-0
I
1748-9
1777-8
K
1711-2
ft
1730-1
K
1749-0
or
1778-9
L
1712-3
I
1731-2
L
1750-1
1779-0
M
1713-4
1732-3
M
1751-2
^#
1780-1
N
1714-5
1733-4
N
1752-3
1781-2
O
1715-6
1734-5
0
1753-4
0
1782-3
P
1716-7
1735-6
P
1754-5
1783-4
Q
1717-8
®
1736-7
Q
1755-6
1784-5
R
1718-9
1737-8
1756-7
m
1785-6
S
1719-0
1738-9
s
1757-8
y
1786-7
T
1790 1
1 739-0
T
1758-9
1787-8
U
1759-0
,*1788-9
V
1760-1
1789-0
w
1761-2'
1790-1
A lapse of eight years.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE ASSAY OFFICE LETTERS. 73
CYCLE 5.
CYCLE 6.
CYCLE 7.
CYCLE 8.
A
1791-2
a
1815-6
A
1839-0
a
1864-5
B
1792-3
b
1816-7
B
1840-1
b
1865-6
C
1793-4
c
1817-8
C
1841-2
c
1866-7
D
1794-5
d
1818-9
D
1842-3
d
1867-8
E
1795-6
e
1819-0
E
1843-4
e
1868-9
F
1796-7
f
1820-1
F
1844-5
f
1869-0
G
1797-8
g
1821-2
G
1845-6
g
V — J
1870-1
H
1798-9
h
1822-3
H
1846-7
h
1871-2
I
1799-0
•
i
1823-4
I
J
1847- 8
1848- 9
•
; 1
1872-3
K
1800-1
k
1824-5
K
1849-0
k
1873-4
L
1801-2
1
1825-6
L
1850-1
1
1874-5
M
1802-3
m
1826-7
M
1851-2
m
1875-6
N
1803-4
n
1827-8
N
1852-3
n
1876-7
O
1804-5
o
1828-9
O
1853-4
o
1877-8
P
1805-6
P
1829-0
P
1854-5
P
1878-9
Q
1806-7
9
1830-1
Q
1855-6
q
-L
1879-0
R
1807-8
r
1831-2
R
1856-7
r
1880-1
S
1808-9
\ s
1832-3
S
1857-8
s
1881-2
T
1809-0
t
1833-4
T
1858-9
t
1882-3
U
1810-1
V
1834-5
U
1859-0
u
1883-4
W
1811-2
w
1835-6
W
1860-1
w
1884-5
X
1812-3
X
1836-7
X
1861-2
X
1885-6
Y
1813-4
7
1837-8
Y
1862-3
y
1886-7
Z
1814-5
z
1838-9
Z
1863-4
z
1887-8
Note.— The usual stamps found upon plate assayed at Newcastle are •—
1. The Lion passant. 2. The leopard's head crowned. 3. The town mark of
^oe,e ^ast!es- 4- The letter or date mark 5 and 5. The maker's initials. After
1784 the duty mark of the sovereign's head is added.
M BIEMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE LETTERS.
| CYCLE t
CYCLE 2.
CYCLE 3.
CYCLE 4.
JULY
JULY
JULY
JULY
A
1773-4
■Lit *J ±
a
1 799-0
1 895 (\
A
1 ft Aft 1
B
1774-5
b
1800-1
*v
1 826-7
B
■ 9
1 851 9
C
1775-6
1801-9
(?T
1 897 8
1 oz /-o
1 ft fro 0
i D
1 776-7
III u- /
d
1802-3
13
1828-9
D
jxy
1 853-4
E
1 777 ft
1803 4
1 89Q 0
All
1 OKA K
F
1 / /o-y
f
1804-5
1 830-1
1855
G
1 77Q ft
1805-6
1831-9
Gr
185fi 7
H
1 780 1
ll
XX
1806-7
x (JvyU— /
1832-3
-LA
1857-8
J. \JtJ 1 — u
I
1 781 9
•
1
1807 8
31
1833-4
T
JL
1858-9
J
1 789-3
•
1
J
1808-9
It
1834-5
K
JL\.
1859-0
K
1 783-4
k
1 809-0
a
1835-6
L
J A
1860-1
L
1784-5
1
X
1810-1
1836-7
M
1861-2
1 M
1785-6
XXX
1811-2
0
1837-8
N
Jul
1 862-3
N
1 786-7
1 / ou- /
XX
1812-3
<&
1838-9
0
1863-4
0
1 787-8
0
1813-4
1839-0
P
JL
1864-5
p
1 788 Q
Jr
1814-5
1840-1
0
1 86.5-6
0
1 78Q-0
1815-6
1841-2
R
1866-7
E
1 7Q0 1
1816-7
1842-3
S5
KJ
1867-8
S
1 7Q1 9
to
1817-8
1843-4
T
1868-9
T
1 7Q9-3
t
1818-9
m
1844-5
u
1869-0
U
1793-4
u
1819-0
m
1845-6
V
1870-1
V
1794-5
V
1820-1
1846-7
w
1871-2
w
1795-6
w
1821-2
X
1847-8
X
1872-3
X
1796-7
X
1822-3
m
1848-9
Y
1873-4
Y
1797-8
J
1823-4
1849-0
Z
1874-5
Z
1798-9
z
1824-5
Five Stamps.
1. Anchor.
2. Lion passant.
3. Date Mark.
4. Sovereign's Head,
1784.
5. Maker's Initials.
Five Stamps.
1. Anchor.
2. Lion passant.
3. Date Mark.
4. Sovereign's Head.
5. Maker's Initials.
Five Stamps.
1. Anchor.
2. Lion passant.
3. Date Mark.
4. Sovereign's Head.
5. Maker's Initials.
Five Stamps. !
1. Anchor.
2. Lion passant.
3. Date Mark.
4. Queen's Head. j
5. Maker's Initials. j
Note. — For the new standard of 11 oz. 10 dwts. a stamp of Britannia is used
instead of the Lion passant.
SHEFFIELD ASSAY OFFICE
LETTEES,
75
CYCLE J.
e
B
(5
13
a
c
1
?
m
z
t
1773- 4
1774- 5
1775- 6
1776- 7
1777- 8
1778- 9
1779- 0
1780- 1
1781- 2
1782- 3
1783- 4
1784- 5
1785- 6
1786- 7
1787- 8
1788- 9
1789- 0
1790- 1
1791- 2
1792- 3
1793- 4
1794- 5
1795- 6
1796- 7
1797- 8
1798- 9
CYCLE 2.
CYCLE 3.
N
H
M
F
a
B
A
s
p
K
L
C
D
B
W
0
T
X
I
V
Q
Y
Z
U
1799- 0
1800- 1
1801- 2
1802- 3
1803- 4
1804- 5
1805- 6
1806- 7
1807- 8
1808- 9
1809- 0
1810- 1
1811- 2
1812- 3
1813- 4
1814- 5
1815- 6
1816 7
1817- 8
1818- 9
1819- 0
1820- 1
1821- 2
1822- 3
1823- 4
C
d
e
f
h
k
1
m
P
<1
r
s
t
u
V
X
z
1824- 5
1825- 6
1826- 7
1827- 8
1828- 9
1829- 0
1830- 1
1831- 2
1832- 3
1833- 4
1834- 5
1835- 6
1836- 7
1837- 8
1838- 9
1839- 0
1840- 1
1841- 2
1842- 3
1843- 4
CYCLE i.
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
K
L
M
N
0
P
B
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
1844- 5
1845- 6
1846- 7
1847- 8
1848- 9
1849- 0
1850- 1
1851- 2
1852- 3
1853- 4
1854- 5
1855- 6
1856- 7
1857- 8
1858- 9
1859- 0
1860- 1
1861- 2
1862- 3
1863- 4
1864- 5
1865- 6
1866- 7
1867- 8
CYCLE 5.
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
K
L
M
N
O
P
a
R
s
T
u
V
w
X
Y
z
1. Lion passant.
2. Crown.
3. Date letter.
4. Duty,King'shead
5. Maker's Mark.
1. Lion passant.
2. Crown and date
in one stamp.
3. Duty.
4. Maker.
1. Lion passant.
2. Crown and date.
3. Duty.
4. Maker.
1. Lion passant.
2. Crown and date.
3. Duty.
4. Maker.
1. Lion passant.
2. Crown.
3. Date letter.
4. Duty.
5. Maker.
For the New Standard — Britannia instead of Lion passant.
70
SCOTLAND.
— ♦ —
EXTRACTS FROM STATUTES AND ORDINANCES,
WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES.
In the reign of James II. a.d. 1457, a statute was passed for
" the reformation of gold and silver wrought by Goldsmiths, and to
eschew the deceiving done to the King's lieges, there shall be
ordained in each Burgh where Goldsmiths work, one understanding
and cunning man of good conscience, who shall be deacon of the
craft ; and when work is brought to the Goldsmith and it be gold,
he shall give it forth again in work, no worse than twenty grains
and silver eleven grains fine, and he shall take his work to the
deacon of the craft that he may examine that it be fine as above
written, and the said deacon shall set his mark and token thereto,
together with the said Goldsmith's ; and when there is no Gold-
smith but one in the town he shall show that work tokened with
his own mark, to the head officers of the town which shall have a
mark in like manner ordained therefore, and shall be set to the
said work."
In 1473, it was enacted that places were to be appointed in
Scotland wherein goldsmiths should examine the gold, and when
sufficient " set their marks thereto."
In the records of the Town Council of the year 1483, we read
that the goldsmiths, with other trades, under the general title of
Hammermen, presented a petition complaining of certain irregu-
larities : —
" In the first thair complaint bure and specifyit that thay war
rycht havely hurt and put to great poverty throw the douncum-
ming of the blak money, walking, warding and in the payment of
yeldis and extentis quhilkis thay war compellit to do be use.
" And in lykwyis that thai were havely hurt be the dayly
mercat maid throw the hie street in cramis and on the baksyde
the toun in haichling and hammermennis werk pertaining to
thame of thair craft in greit dishonour to the burgh and in
braking of the auld gude rule and statutis of thair craft and up or
uther skathis that thay sustenit in defalt of reformatioun."
77
Whereupon it was ordered there should be no " oppin mercat
usit of ony of the saidis craftis upon the hie streittis nor in cramis
upon buirdis," &c. " That upoun ilk Settirday eftir none tua or
thrie of the worthiest maisters and maist of knowledge of the said
craftis^ quhilk sail haif powar with ane officiar with thame to pas
serch and se all mennis work gif it be sufficient in stuff and
workmanschip, gude worth and hable work to serve the Kingis
liegis with and quhair it beis fundin faultive to forbid the samyn
to be sauld under the paine of escheitt."
In the reign of James III., 1483, also it is advised and con-
cluded by the Lords of the Articles, " That henceforth there be
in each burgh of the realm where goldsmiths are, one deacon and
one searcher of the craft, and that each goldsmith's work be
marked with his own mark, the deacon's mark, and the mark of
the town, silver of the fineness of eleven penny fine, and gold of
twenty-two carats fine."
In 1849, another statute to the same effect was ordained ; by
this, each goldsmith was to have one special mark, his works were
to be of the fineness of the new works of silver of Bruges, and
there was to be a deacon of the craft, who was to examine and
mark the works.
In 1555, " Forasmuch as there is great fraud, &c, it is ordained
that no goldsmith make in work nor set forth either his own or
other men's silver, under the just fineness of eleven penny fine
under the pain of death and confiscation of all their goods and
moveables ; and that every goldsmith mark the silver work with
his own mark, and with the town's mark ; also that no goldsmith
set forth either his own or other men's gold, under the just fine-
ness of 22 carats fine, under the pain aforesaid."
Letters under the Privy Seal by King James VI. in favour of
the Deacon and Maisteris of the Groldsmyth Craft, Jany. 3, 1586,
which empowered them to search for gold and silver, and to try
whether it were of the fineness required by former Acts of Par-
liament, and seize such as should be deficient. That it shall not
be lawful for any except the masters of the craft to melt any gold
or silver work unless it be first shown to them to see whether it
has been stolen (the libertie of our Soveraine Lordis cunyiehous
alwyis exceptit.)
78
Act and Statute of the Town Council of Edinburgh, in favour of the
Corporation of Coldsmyths} Aug. 20, 1591.
" The samin day the Provost baillies and counsell, and Adame
Newtoune, baxter, Oadbert Cranstoun, furrour, William Blyth-
man, flescheour, Thomas "Weir, masoun, Kobert Meid, wobster}
William Cowts, walker, Thomas Brown, bonetmaher, of the
remanent deykins of crafts being convenit in counsall anent the
supplicatioun gevin in before thame be George Heriott, deykin
of the goldsmythis, for himselff and in name and behalff of the
remannet brether of the said craft."
The tenour of these articles which were agreed to, referred to
the taking of apprentices for a term of seven years, that every
master shall have served his apprenticeship, and three years over
and above, to make himself more perfect therein, and have given
proof to the deacon of the craft of his experience, both in work-
manship and knowledge of the fineness of the metals, &c.
Only those admitted by the deacon and masters were to work,
melt, or break down, or sell any gold or silver work, under
penalty of twenty pounds, or imprisonment.
That no goldsmith melt any work without first showing it to
the deacon to see whether it was stolen, nor gild any lattoun or
copper work.
By the foregoing enactments it will be seen that only three
marks are referred to, namely : — the Goldsmith's mark, the
Deacon's mark, and the Town mark — the first was the initials of
the maker's name, the second the* initials of the deacon's name,
and the third the castle, indicating the City of Edinburgh — and
nothing is said about a variable letter. The first mention of it
we find in the Minutes of the Goldsmiths' Company, is in Sep-
tember, 1681, when a small black letter a was ordered to be the
letter for the ensuing year; after this the letter is ordered
annually in alphabetical order, from A to Z, in cycles of twenty-
five years. In many cases the letter is stamped at the top of the
page with the identical punch used for the plate.
The Charter of King James VII., incorporating the Society of
Goldsmiths of Edinburgh, dated 10 November, 1687, ratifies the
letters patent of James VI., of the 3 Jany. 1586, in every respect,
and amplifies their power in many instances, such as granting
them the privilege of an Incorporated Society, with power to
acquire, purchase and possess lands, &c, enact statutes and laws
for the regulation of the trade, &c.
79
" And because the art and science of goldsmiths, for the most
part, is exercised in the City of Edinburgh, to which our subjects
frequently resort, because it is the seat of our supreme Parliament,
and of the other supreme courts, and there are few goldsmiths in
other cities ; Therefore we by these presents give and grant to the
said deacon "and masters, full power, faculty and authority to
investigate, inquire into and examine the gold or silver work, and
all gems and stones set in gold or silver, or made and wrought in
any other city, royal burgh, or barony, market, or fair, or exposed
to sale any where within our said kingdom/5 &c.
We have no evidence of any plate being marked in Scotland,
but at the Goldsmiths-' Hall, Edinburgh, until Glasgow had the
privilege of doing so, in May, 1819.
The first entry in the books of the Goldsmiths' Company of
Edinburgh where the thistle is noticed is in the year 1759, and
after that date, for about twenty years, the minutes year by year
particularly name the thistle to be used (instead of the assay
master's initials) along with the letter for the year.
The statute 6 & 7 of Wm. IV. 1836-7, is entitled « An Act to
fix the standard qualities of gold and silver plate in Scotland, and
to provide for the assaying and marking thereof." The marks
required by this Act are —
For gold of 22 carats — 1. The maker's initials. 2. The thistle.
3. The mark of the city. 4. The variable letter. 5. The duty
mark of the sovereign's head.
For gold of 18 carats, the same, with the additional stamp of a
crown and 18.
For silver of the old standard of 11 oz. 2 dwts., the same as for
gold of 22 carats. For silver of the new standard of 11 oz. 10 dwts.
the same stamps, with the additional mark of Britannia.
The duty on plate and licenses is the same as in England, the
payment of which is denoted by the sovereign's head since the
passing of the act in 1784.
The accompanying Table is arranged from the minutes of the
Goldsmiths' Company of Edinburgh, where the date letters appear
noted almost every year from 1681, verified by pieces of plate
bearing dates. The goldsmith's year is from. Michaelmas to
Michaelmas (29 Sept.) The hall mark or town mark of a castle
was used as early as in 1457, and is referred to in that Act (before
quoted,) and alluded to again in 1483 and 1555.
80
Previous to 1681, when our table commences, no date mark
appears to have been used. On a piece of plate said to be of the
sixteenth century, exhibited at Edinburgh in 1856, in the Museum
of the Archaeological Institute, we find a castle (the middle tower
high er than the two others, as usual), and two other stamps of the
letter E. These are, perhaps, the town mark, assay master's, and
maker's mark. The silver mace belonging to the City of Edin-
burgh, and known from the town records to have been made by
George Robertson in 1617, has three marks, viz., the castle, the
cipher G. R., and the letter G.
The High Church plate, dated 1643, and the Newbattle Church
plate, dated 1646, and several others of the same date, have only
the town mark, the assay master's mark, and that of the maker.
Cycle 1 has an old English small letter from A to Z, omitting
J and TJ, in all 24 letters, all given in the minutes.
There were thus 4 stamps used instead of 3, as formerly,
and in 1697 the figure of Britannia for the new standard
was added.
Cycle 2 has Roman capitals from A to Z, omitting the letter J
only, viz., 25 letters. In 1720 the figure of Britannia
was omitted.
Cycle 3. Italic capitals, 25 letters.
Cycle 4. Black letter capitals, 25 letters, but the J. and W. being
omitted, another sign of " & " is added to make up the
number. In the year 1 759 the standard mark of a thistle
was introduced instead of the assay master's initials,
which change was noted in the minutes. These marks
are verified by pieces of a service, called the " Cluny
plate," all of one pattern, and made by the same maker
in various years.
Cycle 5. Roman capitals, commencing with A in 1780, and
. finishing with Z in 1805. In 1784 the duty mark of
the sovereign's head was introduced, and the letter Gr
is repeated in 1787, making 26 letters, the J being
omitted.
Cycle 6. Small Roman letters, from a 1806 to z 1831, including
the letter j, in all 26.
Cycle 7. Black letter capitals ; again omitting the J, we have
25 letters.
Cycle 8. Egyptian, or black capitals.
81
SCOTLAND.
I. — The Standard.
For Edinburgh— A Thistle (after 1759).
For Glasgow — A Lion rampant.
II. — The Hall Mark.
For Edinburgh — A Castle.
For Glasgow — A Tree, a Fish and Bell.
III. — The Duty Mark.
The Sovereign's Head, indicating payment of the duty of 17s.
per oz. on gold, and Is. 6d. per oz. on silver.
IY. — The Date Mark.
A Letter of the Alphabet. The custom has been to use the
letters alphabetically from A to Z, omitting J, thus making a
cycle of 25 years (with some exceptions).
V. — The Maker's Name.
Formerly some device, with or without his initials ; afterwards
the initials of his christian and surname.
82 EDINBURGH ASSAY OFFICE LETTEES.
CYCLE 1.
CYCLE 2.
CYCLE 3.
CYCLE 4.
Black Letter Small.
Roman Capitals.
Italic Capitals.
Old English Caps.
a
29th Sept.
CHARLES II.
1681-2
A
29th Sept.
1705-6
St?
29th Sept.
1730-1
29th Sept.
JL 4 O U - U
1 AQO Q
i 70fi 7
1 / UD- /
M
1 731 9
i 7ka •y
1/OD-/ i
I
1683-4
c
1707-8
' %
1732-3
c
1757-8
J. UOl-U
JL/
1 70ft Q
1 733 4
X 4 O O -tb
ft
1 7£Q Q
t
JAMES VII.
1685-6
E
1709-0
£
1734-5
e*
1759-0
1686-7
F
171 0-1
y
1735-6
-if
GEORGE III.
1760-1
JL 1 UU JL
a
h
1687-8
a
1711-2
(7
1736-7
1761-2
WILL. & MARY.
1688-9
H
1712-3
1737-8
TV
1762-3
t
1 68Q-0
± \J (J U -\J
T
1 71 3 4
1 4 1 O-tt
J
1 73ft Q
1 7R3 4
it
1690-1
K
GEORGE 1.
1714-5
ys
1739-0
3t
1764-5
I
1691-2
L
1715-6
y
1740-1
1765-6
m
1692-3
M
1716-7
1741-2
1766-7
tx
1693-4
N
X 4 x 4 "O
1 74 9 3
JL 4 'X/Z-O
V V
1 767-ft
X 4 \J 4 - (J
n
1694-5
0
1718-9
1743-4
1768-9
WILLIAM III.
1695-6
P
1 71 Q 0
J. 4 XtJ-\J
1 744
B
1769-0
it
1 696-7
0
1 700 1
1 4 <i\J-x
X 4 4tO- O
1 770 1
±44 U - JL
1 697-8
R
-1- V
1 791 9
M
1 7/1 ft 7
1 771-9
±11 JL
g
. 1698-9
S
1722-3
y
1747-8
1772-3
1699-0
T
1 793 4
X 4 /CO-^X
y
1 74ft Q
JL 4 tfc O- u
C
1 773-4
X 1 4 tJ J=
1700-1
u
1724-5
u
1749-0
WL
1774-5
to
1701-2
V
1725-6
w
1750-1
W
1775-6
ANNE.
1702-3
w
1726-7
1751-2
1776-7
1703-4
X
GEORGE II.
1727-8
1752-3
i
1777-8
1704-5
Y
1728-9
%
1753-4
1778-9
Z
1729-0
1754-5
1779-0
Four Stamps.
1. The Castle.
2. The Assay Master's
Initials.
3. The Maker's Initials.
4. The Date Letter in a
pointed shield.
Four Stamps.
Four Stamps.
Four Stamps.
1. The Castle.
2. The Assay Mark.
3. The Maker's Initials.
4. The Date Letter in a
pointed shield.
1. The Castle.
2. The Assay Mark.
3. The Maker's Initials.
4. The Date Letter in a
square shield.
1. The Castle.
2. The Thistle, in 1759.
3. The Maker's Initials.
4. The Date Letter in a
square shield.
From 1697 to 1720 Britannia was added for the new standard.
* The standard mark of a thistle was used instead of the Assay Master's initials in 1759, hy a
Minute of the Corporation.
EDINBUKGH ASSAY OFFICE LETTEKS.
83
CYCLE 5.
CYCLE 6.
CYCLE 7.
CYCLE 8.
Roman Capitals.
Roman Small.
Old English Caps.
Egyptian Capitals.
A
29th Sept.
1780-1
a
29th Sept,
1806-7
Of
29th Sept.
loo2-o
a
A
29th Sept.
1857-8
1 WQ1 O
h
i ftny ft
1 OU 4 -O
IS
1QQQ /|
R
1 ft K ft Q
loo o-y
i iv o o o
n
\j
1 ftOft Q
on
<n
iooy-u
T)
JL/
1 / 00-4L
(]
louy-u
I ft^ R
n
10DU-1
1 / 04fc-0
u
1 ft! 0 1
1 ft^fi 7
lOuU- <
n
1 ftnl 9
10U1-/4
i >yft * r
1 / oO-O
1
1 ftl 1 0
lOl l-/«
VICTORIA.
I ft ^7 ft
lOO i -O
r
I ftA9 ^
G
X # OU- 1
1 ft 1 9 2
1 863-4
G+
J. | O 1 - o
h
1 ft! R 1
LJ
n
1864 5
H
i i
1 7ftft Q
l / oo-y
1
JL
1 ft 1 A K
1014i-0
X OtfcU- X
1
i
1 ftn^ n
T
±
i won f\
1789-0
•
J
1815-6
inn o
1841-2
1866-7
K
± t yu-i
k
XV
1 ftl n 7
101 o- /
9L
1 0'±<i-0
1
L.
1 ftn7 ft
X o u < -o
L
1 A
1 7Q1 0
± i yi-)«
1
X
1 ftl V ft
101 / -O
M
1 ft/( Q 4
M
1 ftnft Q
M
1 7Q9 3
in
XXX
1 ftl ft Q
X Oii-J
N
IN
i ftfiQ n
louy-u
N
JL. 1
1 7Q3-4-
XX
1 ftl Q 0
(£$
1 845-6
X Utfc u - u
n
1 870 1
X O 1 w - J
o
± / i74t-0
r\
U
GEORGE IV.
i q on i
1^
1 ft /I A 7
D
lo /
p
x < u u - u
Yi
1 ft9I 9
1 ftzL7 ft
1 ft79 R
0
1 •y
1 < UD- /
a
4
i ono q
1 Q J O A
io4:o-y
D
r\
10 / 0-4:
K
X
1 ft QQ -4
l ft/i o n
c
O
1 or/A y
10/ 4-0
s
"1 T'Qft Q
X i cO-a
Q
1 ft 91 *
10,4 -1-0
± O «J U- X
T
1
1 ft 7 ^ A
10 / 0-D
T
JL
1799-0
4-
t
1825-6
m
TOP"! n
1851-2
1 1
u
1876-7
u
1 ftflfl 1
lOUU-l
n
LX
1QOA V
10/4D- /
IK?
1 ft^9 R
v
V
i ft*yy ft
lo / / -o
Y
1 801 -2
JL O \J X - &
V
1 827-8
1853-4
W
V v
1 878-Q
W
1802-3
w
1828-9
1854-5
X
1879-0
X
1803-4
X
1829-0
1
1855-6
Y
1880-1
Y
1804-5
y
WILLIAM IV.
1830-1
1856-7
Z
1881-2
Z
1805-6
z
1831-2
Five Stamps.
Five Stamps.
Five Stamps.
Five Stamps.
1. The Castle.
2. The Thistle.
3. The Maker's Initials.
4. The Date Letter in a
pointed shield.
5. King's Head, 1 784.
1. The Castle.
2. The Thistle.
3. The Maker's Initials.
4. The Date Letter in a
1 pointed shield.
5. Sovereign's Head.
1. The Castle.
2. The Thistle.
3. The Maker's Initials.
4. The Date Letter in a
shield concave sides
and pointed.
5. Sovereign's Head.
1. The Castle.
2. The Thistle.
3. The Maker's Initials.
4. The Date Letter in
an oval.
5. Sovereign's Head.
* In 1784 the Duty Mark of the Sovereign's Head was added,
f The G is repeated, according to the Minutes.
G 2
84
GLASGOW.
Glasgow was made an assay town by the 59 Geo. III. (May,
J819). The district comprised Glasgow and forty miles round,
and it was directed that all plate made in the district should be
assayed at that office.
The peculiar mark of the Company is a tree growing out of a
mount, with a bell pendent on the sinister branch, and a bird on
the top branch, over the trunk of the tree a salmon in fesse, in its
mouth an annulet.
The Marks used on plate stamped at Glasgow are —
1. The standard, a lion rampant.
2. The hall mark, the arms of the city, as described above.
3. The maker's mark, viz., his initials.
4. The date mark, or variable letter, changed on the 1st July
in every year.
5. The duty mark of the sovereign's head.
For gold of 18 carats the figures 18 are added, and for silver of
the new standard, Britannia, instead of the lion rampant.
The Scotch Act of 6 & 7 Wm. IY. 1836-7, in some respects
extended to Glasgow, although it is generally regulated by the
59th of Geo. III. ; but they have not adopted the marks prescribed
by this statute of 1836, and continue those previously in use, the
only difference however is, that the lion rampant takes the place
of the thistle.
Other Towns in Scotland seem to have availed themselves of
the early Acts of Parliament, and used their own Town marks. —
Both Perth and St. Andrews had their Town marks, the former a
spread eagle, the latter a St] Andrew's cross, and examples of
these are still in existence. That of Perth on the West Church
plate in 1771, along with all the Edinburgh marks of that date,
and that of St. Andrew's on the Parish Church plate, bearing
date 1671.
85
GLASGOW ASSAY OFFICE LETTERS.
A
J\.
1st July.
1819-0
1st July
1832-3
1st July.
1845-6
J*
1st July.
1858-9
±5
1820-1
vJ
1833-4
1846-7
1859-0
1821-2
"P
1834-5
/IT
1847-8
IP
1860-1
XJ
1822-3
n
1835-6
M
1848-9
(f\
1861-2
E
R
J. OuU- 1
(ft:
J. Otfc t7— u
JL ou^-o
JO
1824-5
s
1837-8
1850-1
1863-4
G
1825-6
T
1838-9
1851-2
C
1864-5
H
1826-7
U
1839-0
*
1852-3
1865-6
I
1827-8
V
1840-1
3
1853-4
1866-7
J
1828-9
W
1841-2
3
1854-5
1867-8
K
1829-0
X
1842-3
M,
1855-6
1868-9
L
1830-1
Y
1843-4
1856-7
i
1869-0
M
1831-2
Z
1844-5
1857-8
1870-1
Five Stamps.
Five Stamps.
1 . Lion rampant.
2. Tree, Fish, and Bell.
3. Sovereign's Head.
4. Date Letter.
5. Maker's Initials.
1. Lion rampant.
2. Tree, Fish, and Bell.
3. Queen's Head.
4. Date Letter.
5. Maker's Initials.
80
IRELAND.
4
The Goldsmiths' Company in Dublin, has the exclusive manage-
ment of the assaying and marking of wrought gold and silver
plate in Ireland.
The harp, and subsequently the harp crowned, was the original
hall or district mark for all Irish manufactured plate assayed in
Dublin, and found to be standard, and was used long previous to
the charter granted by Charles I., 22 December, in the year 1638,
in the thirteenth year of his reign, to the Corporation of Gold-
smiths of Dublin, Ireland. This charter adopted for Ireland the
standards then in use in England, viz. — 22 carats for gold, and
11 oz. 2 dwts. for silver. The harp crowned has been continued
in use ever since, in pursuance of a clause contained in that
charter, and also by the Act 23 & 24 Geo. III. c. 23, s. 3, 1784.
The figure of Hibernia was used by order of the Commissioners
of Excise in the year 1730, when a duty was first imposed, to
denote the payment of the duty, viz. — sixpence per ounce on
manufactures of silver plate, and at eight shillings per ounce on
gold plate.
The King's head, or the head of the reigning sovereign, is
affixed to denote the payment of the duty, by the 47 Geo. III.,
Sess. 2, c. 15, s. 6, 10 August, 1807, in which Act no notice was
taken of the former mark of Hibernia, and the two marks were
continued.
In the year 1784 a Company of Geneva Watch Makers came to
Ireland, and commenced an establishment near Waterford, in the
County of Waterford, and the place or locality of this establish-
ment was called New Geneva. An Assay Office, and a deputy
assay-master or assayer were granted to them at that place, under
the provisions of the 23 & 24 Geo. III. c. 23. This Act came
into operation on the 1st June, 1784, and repeals so much of the
3rd of Geo. II. as respects the assaying of gold, or regulating the
manufacture, assaying or exchange or sale of gold, or the duty on
any manufacture of gold in Ireland. The only standard of gold
87
allowed by the Act 3 Geo. II. was that of 22 carat fine ; this was
altered by the 23 & 24 Geo. III. c. 23, whereby three standards
are provided of 22, 20, and 18 carats fine, respectively. These
standards were authorized by this Act to facilitate and encourage
the manufacture of gold and silver wares and watch cases, &c, &c,
in Ireland, and especially at New Geneva.
This establishment and assay office did not continue to work
over five or six years, and with this exception the Assay Office in
Dublin has been, and is, the only one in Ireland, and has power
and jurisdiction in all parts of Ireland.
The Marks directed by this Act are : —
1. Standaed Gold op 22 caeats. — The figures 22 and the
initials of the christian and surnames of the maker, and the harp
crowned, if stamped in the Assay Office in Dublin — or the harp
crowned, with a bar across the harp strings, if stamped in the
Assay Office at New Geneva, Waterford.
2. Standaed Gold of 20 caeats. — The figures 20, and the
initials of the christian and surnames of the maker, and a plume
of three feathers, if stamped in the Assay Office in Dublin — or a
plume of hvo feathers, if stamped in the Assay Office at New
Geneva, Waterford.
3. Standaed Gold of 18 caeats. — The figures 18, and the
initials of the christian and surnames of the maker, and an
unicorn's head, if stamped in the Assay Office in Dublin — or the
unicorn's head with a collar on the neck, if stamped in the Assay
Office at New Geneva, Waterford.
For description of articles that are exempted from duty and
marking by this Act, see Sec. 6.
By the 11th sec. of this Act (23 & 24 Geo. III. c. 23) it is
enacted, " That on and after the 1st June, 1784, eveYy person
making, or causing to be made, any manufactures of gold, are to
enter an impression of his or her neiv marks or punches made as
aforesaid, with his or her name and place of abode, in either of
the said Assay Offices, upon paying the sum of five shillings to
the assayer or wardens, who are hereby required to make, on a
plate of pewter or copper, impressions of such marks or punches ;
and also entries of such marks or punches, with the names and
places of abode of the owners thereof, in a book or books to be
carefully kept for that purpose, if such owners be resident in
Dublin, or at New Geneva. And that no person or persons
88
shall be entitled to have any manufactures of gold made, or caused
to be made by him or her, assayed or stamped, at either of the
said assay offices, until after same have been stamped by the
maker, and until after such impression and entry have been made
at such office of the mark or punch of said person or persons,
which denotes the particular standard of such manufactures of
gold j and that no manufacture of gold shall be assayed or
stamped at the said Assay Offices, if marked with any other mark
or punch but such as is duly entered ; and that no manufacture of
gold shall be assayed or stamped at said Assay Offices unless such
gold work be marked with the mark which denotes the true
standard of same."
The maker's marks were in use, and were also registered, at
the time of the passing of this Act, and for many years pre-
viously, in accordance with other Acts of Parliament, and the
practice of the London Hall. The manufacturers were required
to stamp and register their mark punches in the Assay Office in
Dublin, previous to the year 1694, and this practice has been con-
tinued to the present time.
These three standards of 22, 20, and 18 carats, directed by this
Act, were continued by another Act, subsequently passed, namely,
the 47 Geo. III., Sess. 2, c. 15, s. 3, 10 August, 1807, and are
still in use.
In addition to these, three lower standards of 15, 12, and
9 carats, are also provided by the 17 & 18 Yict. from and
after the 22nd December, 1854, for gold wares — these standards
are subject to duty, assaying, and marking with the usual marks,
and the figures 15, 12, or 9, to denote the true standard of same.
By the 5 & 6 Yict. c. 47, s. 59-60, the several Assay Offices in
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, are directed
and empowered to assay and mark Foreign manufactured gold
and silver plate ; and also to assay and mark, at any of the said
Assay Offices, gold and silver plate manufactured in any part of
the said United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Previous to the passing of this Act, each of the Assay Offices
had power only to assay and mark gold and silver plate manu-
factured within their own districts.
N.B. — The mark punch of the resident shopkeeper, or importer
of plate, is required to be registered, in respect of assaying and
marking Foreign plate, or plate manufactured out of the district
89
of the Assay Office that it is sent to be assayed ; but the maker's
marks are not required unless he is resident in the city, or town,
or district of the assay.
The variable letter of the year is the date mark, and is im-
pressed on all manufactured gold and silver plate that is stamped
at the Assay Office in Dublin, in accordance with the practice of
the Goldsmith's Hall in London, but the letter, and also the
character of the letter, used in Dublin in each year, is not the
same as is used in London, in each corresponding year. Thus,
for example, the London date mark in the year 1860-61, was the
letter (t) old English small, and the Dublin date mark, in the same
year, was the letter (p) Roman small. The Dublin alphabet,
ending with the letter (Z) on the 29th or 30th day of May, 1821,
was in Roman capitals ; the character of the letter was then
changed for Roman small, commencing with the letter (a), and
was continued with the succeeding letters annually, in the same
character, until about the 30th day of September, 1825, when the
small Roman letter (e) was changed, and Roman capitals again
used, beginning with (E) ; this was done in compliance with the
order of the Commissioners of Stamps, to denote the transfer of
the duty from the Commissioners and Collectors of Excise to the
Commissioners of Stamps, by the Act 6 Geo. IY. c. 118 : and
also to mark the change of the standard of silver made in Ireland
at that time, by having to adopt the practice of the London Hall
in marking silver plate, at an allowance of only one pennyweight
and a half below the standard — this was also by order of the
Commissioners of Stamps, and according to the 47 Geo. III. c. 15,
Sess. 2. Previous to this order, Irish manufactured silver plate
used to be marked in Dublin, at some periods, as standard, at an
allowance of from two and a half to three and a half pennyweight
worse than the standard, consequently Irish sterling, manu-
factured previous to the 13th August, 1825, was inferior to
English sterling, and to the Irish sterling subsequently manu-
factured.
The date mark has been used in Dublin from a very early period,
as it appears to have been in use previous to the year 1646.
90
IRELAND.
I. — The Standard.
For Dublin. — A harp crowned for gold of 22 carats, and silver
of 11 oz. 2 dwts.
For gold of 22 carats — A harp crowned and the figures 22 ;
23, 24 Geo. III. (1784).
For gold of 20 carats — A plume op three feathers and 20.
(1 June, 1784).
For gold of 18 carats — An unicorn's head and the figures 18.
(1 June, 1784).
In addition to these, three lower standards of 15, 12, and
9 carats, are provided by the 17 & 18 Vict., on and after 22nd
December, 1854, for gold wares.
For New Geneva (from the 1st June, 1 784, which lasted five
or six years) .
For gold of 22 carats — A harp crowned and erased (a bar
across) and the figures 22.
For gold of 20 carats — A plume of two feathers and the
FIGURES 20.
For gold of 18 carats — An unicorn's head with collar and the
FIGURES 18.
II. — The Hall Mark.
For Dublin — A figure of Hibernia, used since 1730.
III. — The Duty Mark.
The Sovereign's Head, used to denote the payment of duty.
IY. — The Maker's Mark.
Some device, with or without the initials of the goldsmith;
later the initials of his christian and surname.
V. — The Date Mark.
A Letter of the Alphabet, changing every year from A to Z,
omitting J, in cycles of twenty-five years. There is reason to
believe that other characters than the Roman were adopted in the
early cycles, but not having sufficient authority to alter them, we
prefer leaving the list as it now stands : Thus in cycle 2, old
English capitals were probably used.
DUBLIN ASSAY OFFICE LETTERS. 91
♦
The Dublin Marks are these Twenty-five Letters of the Alphabet, always
omitting the letter J.
The time appointed for the letter to be changed, and the new punches put in com-
mission, is the 29th or 30th of May in every year ; but this date has not been strictly
adhered to, the changes having been made at various later periods in some years.
CYCLE 1.
Roman Capitals.
CYCLE 2.
Old English Caps.
CYCLE 3.
Roman Capitals.
CYCLE 4.
Roman Small.
CYCLE 5.
Roman Capitals.
A
1646-7
%
1671-2
A
1696-7
a
1721-2
A
1746-7
B
1647-8
1672-3
B
1697-8
b
1722-3
B
1747-8
C
1648-9
t
1673-4
C
1698-9
c
1723-4
C
1748-9
D
1649-0
1674-5
D
1699-0
a
1724-5
D
1749-0
E
1650-1
e
1675-6
E
1700-1
e
1725-6
E
1750-1
F
1651-2
f
1676-7
F
1701-2
f
1726-7
F
1751-2
Gr
1652-3
1677-8
Gr
1702-3
g
1727-8
G
1752-3
H
1653-4
1678-9
H
1703-4
h
1728-9
H
1753-4
I
1654-5
3
1679-0
I
1704-5
i
1729-0
I
1754-5
K
1655-6
1680-1
K
1705-6
k
1730-1
K
1755-6
L
1656-7
%
1681-2
L
1706-7
1
1731-2
L
1756-7
M
1657-8
M
1682-3
M
1707-8
m
1732-3
M
1757-8
N
1658-9
M
1683-4
N
1708-9
n
1733-4
N
1758-9
0
1659-0
1684-5
.0
1709-0
0
1734-5
O
1759-0
P
1660-1
1685-6
P
1710-1
P
1735-6
P
1760-1
Q
1661-2
1686-7
Q
1711-2
q
1736-7
Q
1761-2
E
1662-3
m
1687-8
R
1712-3.
r
1737-8
R
1762-3
S
1663-4
§>
1688-9
S
1713-4
s
1738-9
S
1763-4
T
1664-5
1689-0
T
1714-5
t
1739-0
T
1764-5
TJ
1665-6
m
1690-1
U
1715-6
u
1740-1
U
1765-6
V
1666-7
V
1691-2
V
1716-7
V
1741-2
V
1766-7
W
1667-8
WB
1692-3
W
1717-8
w
1742-3
W
1767-8
X
1668-9
f
1693-4
X
1718-9
X
1743-4
X
1768-9
Y
1669-0
i
1694-5
Y
1719-0
y
1744-5
Y
1769-0
Z
1670-1
%
1695-6
Z
1720-1
z
1745-6
Z
17 70-1
Three Stamps.
1. Harp crowned.
2. Date Letter.
3. Maker's Initials.
Three Stamps.
1. Harp crowned.
2. Date Letter.
3. Maker's Initials.
These letters are not
fac-similes.
Three Stamps.
1. Harp crowned.
2. Date Letter.
3. Maker's Initials.
Four Stamps.
1. Harp crowned.
2. Date Letter
3. Maker's Initials.
4. Hibernia, in 1730.
Four Stamps.
1. Harp crowned.
2. Date Letter.
3. Maker's Initials.
4. Hibernia.
92
DUBLIN ASSAY OFFICE LETTERS.
CYCLE 6.
Roman Small.
CYCLE 7.
Old English Caps.
CYCLE 8.
Roman.
CYCLE 9.
Roman Small.
a
1771-2
1796-7
a
1821-2
a
1846-7
b
1772-3
B
1797-8
b
1822-3
b
1847-8
c
1773-4
C
1798-9
c
1823-4
c
1848^9
d
1774-5
©
1799-0
a
1824-5
d
1849-0
e
1775-6
1800-1
eE
1825-6
e
1850-1
f
1776-7
1801-2
F
1826-7
f
1851-2
o
1777-8
1802-3
Gr
1827-8
o
1852-3
h
1778-9
1803-4
H
1828-9
h
1853-4
i
1779-0
3
1804-5
I
1829-0
•
1
1854-5
k
1780-1
%
1805-6
K
1830-1
k
1855-6
1
1781-2
1806-7
L
1831-2
1
1856-7
m
1782-3
iH
1807-8
M
1832-3
m
1857-8
n
1783-4
1808-9
N
1833-4
n
1858-9
0
1784-5
1809-0
O
1834-5
0
1859-0
P
1785-6
1810-1
P
1835-6
P
JL
1860-1
Q
j.
1786-7
1811-2
Q
1836-7
X
1861-2
r
1787-8
E
1812-3
E
1837-8
r
1862-3
s
1788-9
1813-4
S
1838-9
s
1863-4
t
1789-0
C
1814-5
T
1839-0
t
1864-5
u
1790-1
1815-6
U
1840-1
u
1865-6
V
1791-2
1816-7
V
1841-2
V
1866-7
w
1792-3
1817-8
W
1842-3
w
1867-8
X
1793-4
1818-9
X
1843-4
X
1868-9
y
1794-5
i
1819-0
Y
1844-5
y
1869-0
z
1795-6
1820-1
Z
1845-6
z
1870-1
Four Stamps.
1. Harp crowned, Uni-
corn, or Plume.
2. Date Letter.
3. Maker's Initials.
4 Hibernia.
The three Standards di-
rected to be used after
1784 are the Harp, Uni-
corn, or Plume.
Five Stamps.
1. Harp crowned, Uni-
corn, or Plume.
2. Maker's Mark.
3. Date Letter.
4. Hibernia.
5. The King's Head in
; 1807.
Five Stamps.
1. Harp crowned, Uni-
corn, or Plume.
2. Maker's Mark.
3. Date Letter.
4. Hibernia.
5. King's Head.
In September, 1825, the
letters changed from small
to large.
Five Stamps.
1. Harp crowned, Uni-
corn, or Plume.
2. Maker's Mark.
3. Date Letter.
4. Hibernia. _
5. King's Head, or
Queen's.
93
EXAMPLES OF ENGLISH AND FOREIGN HALL MARKS.
>X<
RADCLIFF
19^
* R
NML
V
D
1. London. 1545. Silver Spoon with a lion
sejant on the stem. — Br. Ashford.
2. London. 1654. Silver Spoon with a
knob on the stem, like the capital of
a column.
3. London. 1698. Britannia or new
standard. Pair of Silver Candle-
sticks, plain baluster stems.
4. Dublin. 1680. Two Silver Tankards,
presented to the Guild of St. John.
— Merchant Taylors' Company.
5. Exeter ? 1637. Silver Apostle Spoon.
—The Eev. T. Staniforth.
6. England. Circa 1630. Silver Apostle
Spoon, stamp of half rose and half
fleur de lis. — The Rev. T. Staniforth.
7. England, Norwich? Circa 1576. Cocoa-
nut Cup, carved, silver mounting of
the 16th century. — S. K. Museum.
8. England. Circa 1680. A Silver Spoon
with flat stem and heart-shaped end,
as on others of the end of the 17th
century. — Rev. T. Staniforth.
9. Paris. Circa 1720. Pair of Silver
Boxes. (Loan Catalogue, 6413). —
Lord Bateman.
10. France. Circa 1784. Pair of Silver
Powder Boxes, with the arms of the
Due de Rohan. — Felix Slade} Esq.
11. France. Circa 1750. Gold enamelled
Snuff Box, temp. Louis XV. — G.
Go ding, Esq.
12. France. Circa 1740. Silver Sugar
Pot and Cover, rococo scrolls, &c. —
South Kensington Museum, No. 4246.
94
PD
MI
G 0
I LP E
1 W IB
(*B)
R B
R
© :N
T
i CE
+ LV*
I§(84)
MK
1829
ST
13. Augsburg. Circa 1650. Silver Ewer
and Salver. (Loan Catalogue, 6251).
— Duke of Manchester.
14. Nuremberg. Circa 1650. Silver Stand-
ing Cup. (Loan Catalogue, 6197.)^-
Her Majesty the Queen.
15. Holland. Circa 1642. Silver Salver
with inscription. (Loan Catalogue,
6182). — Baron Lionel de Rothschild.
16. Haarlem. Circa 1700. Oviform Silver
Tea Canister. — S. K. Museum.
17. Amsterdam. 17th century. Oval
Silver Box and Cover, with large
repousse flowers.
18. Saxony. 17th century. Silver gilt
Cup, repousse historical subjects.
19. Berne. 1690. Large Lion Cup, given
by Will. III. to the city of Berne.
(Loan Cat. 6363).— Baron M. de
Rothschild.
20. Doccum. 1648. Silver Beaker, en-
graved with costume figures, &c. —
South Kensington Museum, No. 3636.
21. Wurtemberg. Circa 1660. Silver
Beaker, with landscapes and figures.
(Loan Cat. 6394.)— J. D. Gardner ,Esq.
22. Vienna. 16th century. Silver Salt
Cellar. (Bernal Coll.)— South Ken-
sington Museum.
23. Utrecht. 17th century. Silver Beaker
with bells and Dutch inscription.
24. Mayence. Circa 1620. Silver Tan-
kard, repousse classical subject.
(Loa*i Cat. 6324).—^. Waterton, Esq.
25. Rome. 1790. Silver Ewer of the late
Card. York, made by L. Yaladini. —
Duke of Hamilton.
26. St. Petersburg. 1829. Silver Cup, 84
parts fine, 16 alloy.— W. Chaffers, Esq.
95
V
FOKEIGN HALL MAEKS.
ft —
The following imperfect list is here given merely as an attempt
to reduce to a system, the marks adopted by other countries in
marking their plate. No works have hitherto been published on
the subject, and therefore great allowance must be made for any
inaccuracy in the appropriation of localities. It is in fact a few
notes made by the author alone, on the inspection of pieces of
plate which have come under his immediate observation, he will
therefore feel obliged for further information from those gentle-
men who have opportunities of assisting him.
The great centres of Goldsmiths' work, Augsburg and Nurem-
berg, where nearly all the finest pieces of plate were produced in
the 16th and 17th centuries, do not appear to have dated their
works, as we seldom find more than two marks, viz : that of the
city and that of the maker. Yery few cities did so. Paris seems
to have used a date letter, and it is to be hoped somebody may
be induced to investigate the subject, and do as much for Paris
as has been done for London.
Amsterdam and other Towns in Holland probably had date
marks, as a letter is generally found in juxta-position with the
town mark and that of the maker. On many pieces of German
plate are stamped the figures 13 or 12 ; these numbers refer to
the quality of the silver according to Cologne weight, viz. 13 parts
of fine silver and 3 parts alloy, making up the 16 loths of which
the Cologne pound consisted. It is still adopted in the Northern
parts of Germany, but troy weight of 12 ounces in the pound is
mostly used.
In Eussia the plate is usually stamped with 84, being the
number of parts of pure silver in the hundred.
GERMANY.
Augsbueg A pine apple, the arms of the city.
Nuremberg The capital Roman letter N.
Prussia Spread eagle (one neck).
Austria Imperial eagle (two necks).
Cologne Three crowns in chief on a shield.
Matence A wheel with six spokes.
Yienna A shield of arms with two bars.
96
Wurtemberg Three stag's horns on a shield.
Saxony Two crossed swords ; sometimes " 13."
Cleves Three lines forked ends, crossed.
Eatisbon Two crossed keys.
Worms A single key.
Bremen A single key.
Hungary A double cross crowned.
Hall A crescent and star above.
Biberach A wolf rampant.
Greuzenbach A fish on a shield.
Koningsberg A crowned head.
Westphalia A horse galloping.
Coblentz A fleur de lis.
Keyserberg A saddle.
Biel Two hatchets crossed.
Eavensburg A castle with two towers.
Speyer & Prague A castle with three towers.
Hamburg A castle with three towers.
Antwerp A citadel, from which issue two hands.
Unknown A griffin sejant.
Unknown F B in monogram; a small 2V and an s on
each side.
Unknown N A crowned and 92 beneath.
Unknown T F under an imperial crown, an eagle in
the centre.
Unknown An anchor.
Unknown Z on a shield.
Unknown A double diamond with a G in each space.
Unknown A spread eagle on a rock.
Unknown A horse galloping and a triangle.
Unknown An open hand crowned.
Unknown A shield with three squares, two and one.
Unknown A sword and an arrow crossed.
Unknown Two banners crossed.
HOLLAND AND BELGIUM.
Holland A lion rampant, usually accompanied by the
mark of a town and Goldsmith's mark.
Haarlem A dagger, with 4 stars at the sides and a
97
cross at the point, sometimes crowned,
and occasionally the lion rampant is
added.
Utrecht A shield of arms of the town and lion
rampant.
Hague A lion rampant for Holland, a stork hold-
ing a horse-shoe in its beak, a letter
crowned, and a monogram.
Amsterdam Three saltire crosses, one above the other
on a shield, crowned; recent stamps
have a letter at the side.
Maestricht? A star of six points.
Doccum A crescent and three stars.
Flushing A silver flagon or amphora crowned.
Orange (House of) ... A hunting horn on a shield.
Letden Two crossed keys.
Hainhault Four lions on a shield, two and two.
Breda 1 Three saltire crosses, two above, another
Bergen op Zoom... / below, on a shield.
Brussels St. Michael killing the dragon.
Dordrecht ~) . , . in ,
Delft j A smeld> Party Per Pale-
Unknown The letter Y on a shield crowned.
Unknown A hunting horn on a shield.
Unknown A rose under crown, and lion rampant.
Unknown A cock, a shield of arms and a small letter,
and the lion rampant of Holland.
Unknown Two lions, one above the other, and a
crown, and the lion rampant.
VARIOUS.
St. Petersburg One sceptre crossed by two anchors.
Moscow St. George and the dragon.
Sweden Three crowns, two over one.
Berne A bear passant.
Rome Two crossed keys.
Spain, Fuente d'onoro. The pillars of Hercules crowned "Fuente"
and a pelican " in her piety "
Burgundy (House of) A steel (fer a feu) crossed by two clubs.
Schaffhausen The fore-part of a goat.
H
FEANCE.
In France a similar system of stamping gold and silver wares
was adopted, as early as the thirteenth century, but the means of
ascertaining the date of manufacture is not so easily determined
as in England.
In the Livre des Metiers, for the regulation of trades in France,
made h& Etienne Boileau, Provost of Paris in the year 1260, we
find the rules by which the goldsmiths were regulated, and masters
were appointed to see them carried into effect. This was probably
the first institution of the Goldsmiths5 Company in Paris, in which
we meet with the following clauses, in the old language of the
time of Saint Louis : —
" Nus orfevres ne puet ouvrer d'or a Paris qu'il ne soit a la
touche de Paris ou mieudres, laquele touche passe tous les ors de
quoi on oeuvre en nule terre." Again, " Nus orfevres ne puet
ouvrer k Paris d'argent que il ne soit ausi bons come estelins ou
mieudres."
No goldsmith may work gold in Paris which is not of the Paris
touch or better, which touch or standard surpasses all the gold
which is worked in any other country.
No goldsmith may work at Paris any silver which is not as
good as sterling (of England) or better.
" Nus orfevres ne puet avoir que un aprenti estrange, mes de
son lignage ou de lignage sa fame, soit de loing soit de pres, en
peut-il avoir tant come il li plaist." No goldsmith can have but
one apprentice who is a stranger, but as many of his or his wife's
relations as he pleases.
" Nus orfevres ne puet ouvrer de nuit, se ce n'est a Peuvre lou
Roy, la Roine, leurs anfans, leurs freres et Pevesque de Paris."
No goldsmith may work at night except on work commanded by
the King, the Queen, their children, their brothers, and the Bishop
of Paris.
99
" Nus orfevres ne doit paiage ne coustume nule de cliose qu'il
achate ne vende apartenant a leur mestier.-" No goldsmith shall
pay any tax or duty on anything he buys or sells appertaining to
his trade.
" Nus orfevres ne puet ouvrir sa forge au jour d'apostele, se
ele n'eschist au Samedi, fors que, un ouvroir que chascun ouvre
a son tour a ces festes et au diemanche ; et quanques cil gaaigne
qui Pouvroir a ouvert, il le met en la boiste de la confrairie des
orfevres, en laquele boiste en met les deniers Dieu que li orfevre
font des choses que il vendent ou achetent apartenans a leur
mestier, et de tout Fargent de celle boiste done-on chascun an
le jor de Pasques un diner as povres de TOstel Dieu de Paris/''
No goldsmith may work his forge on the day of the fete of the
Apostles, if it does not fall on a Saturday, with the exception of
the shop, where every one works in his turn on the fete days and
on Sundays, and all that he gains who has an open shop on these
days he shall put in the box of the Confrerie of Goldsmiths, in
which box the alms are placed, the contents being devoted on
Easter day every year for a dinner to the poor at the Hotel Dieu
of Paris.
In an ordinance of Philippe le Hardi, a.d. 1275, the argentarii
were compelled to stamp their works with the seign of the town
in which their forge was situated, on pain of confiscation of the
goods ; and in the reign of Philippe le Bel, a.d. 1313, gold was
ordered to be stamped with the punch of the Goldsmiths'' Com-
pany of Paris, which was kept by the prudhommes of the Company.
" Tout orfevre qui negligerait de faire marquer ses ouvrages
serait puni de corps et d* avoir," that is by fine and imprisonment.
It was also ordained that each city should have a particular
mark for works in silver.
This was the origin of the Hall-mark in France, each town
having a different device and a letter, changing every year at the
election of the new masters.
The marks for goldsmiths' work made at Paris was anciently of
two sorts, the maker's mark, and the assay mark of the maison
commune, or common hall. The first was the signature of the
goldsmith, who usually adopted some emblem, as a star, cross,
rose, &c, surmounted by afleur de lis.
We are further informed by Pierre le Roy, Statuts et Privileges
du Corps des Marchands Orfevres de Paris, collected from ancient
h 2
100
documents relative to the government of the goldsmiths' trade,
that a common stamp was ordered to be kept at the common hall
of the goldsmiths' community called the Oontremarque, or the
punch of Paris (jpoingon de Paris), the safe keeping of which was
entrusted to the wardens in charge ; and all plate of gold or silver
made in Paris was to be taken to them, and assayed and marked
with it.
The number of goldsmiths of Paris was limited to 300.
Those who had regularly served their apprenticeship and
aspired to become masters, were strictly examined by the wardens
of the company as to the weights and proportions of the mark,
the price of gold and silver, the manner of alloying the precious
metals, and all matters relating thereto. The wardens were also
required diligently to inquire as to the morals and general conduct
of the aspirant, who was moreover to execute a chef d'ceuvre, and
submit it for their approval. He was then presented to the
Mint, and again examined. If considered duly qualified, he
entered into a bond for a thousand livres (tournois), and received
a punch, with which he was to stamp all his works. This punch
was ordered to be afleur de lis, crowned with a device, or initial
letters of his name. An impression of this was made upon two
tablets of brass, one for the Mint, and the other for the maison
commune.
When a goldsmith had completed a piece of plate, he first
placed his own stamp upon it, and then took it to the maison
commune to be assayed, and countermarked with the common
stamp of the Company. The assay was ordered to take place in
the Company's offices — that is to say, those of gold by aqua fortis
(eau forte), those of silver (a la coupelle) by the cupel, or crucible,
and not otherwise.
The titre or standard was, for gold 22 carats fine, and silver
11 deniers 12 grains ; small gold wares, such as crosses, buckles,
buttons, snuff-boxes, and jewels, were to be of 20 carats fine.
The denier, in computing the standard of silver, was an imaginary
weight, like the carat in gold, the pound was divided into twelve
parts, and the carat subdivided into 24 grains.
By an ordinance of Louis XII., given at Blois in 1506, after
confirming ancient privileges, it enjoins goldsmiths to have their
works countermarked by the sworn masters or wardens of the
101
maison commune, who had the contre-poincon in their keeping.
It goes on to say that this contre-poincon was to be changed
every year, registered at the Mint, and stamped upon a table of
brass, with the name of the wardens. It also definitively assigns
one particular spot for goldsmiths to reside, namely, opposite the
money changers, mercers, jewellers, and others who had any
trade in the precious metals. This spot was for several centuries
the Pont au Change, or Grand Pont.
In 1493 the maker's mark, in addition to the fleur de lis, had
two dots or pellets, a sort of emblem to remind the goldsmith that
the law only allowed him 2 grains of remedy, that is, an allowance of
2 grains more in the alloy than exactly specified by the law, and
if that was exceeded the plate was broken up. In 1506 the gold-
smiths added to the mark of the fleur de lis and two pellets, the
initial letters of their christian and surnames. The size of the
stamp, left at first to the discretion of the goldsmith, was fixed
by Louis XI Y. in 1679, to two lines high, by one and a quarter
broad. This mark existed up to 1789.
The second, or assay mark, was impressed by the Corporation,
and proved that the article had been assayed, and found to be as
good as the Paris standard. This stamp can be traced back as
far as 1275, as before noticed. The puncheon was at Paris a letter
of the alphabet crowned, changing every year with the new
masters, or gardes du metier, in alphabetical order. We are
informed by Pierre de Eosnel, in the third part of his Mercure
Indien, that the letter for the year 1472 was M ; but as several
irregularities occur from incidental circumstances, the exact order
cannot be ascertained without consulting the minutes of the Mint,
where all the marks were registered on a plate of brass by the
identical punches. The variable mark continued in use until 1783,
U being the letter for that year, when Louis XYI. assigned to
each community of goldsmiths in France an invariable mark,
that of Paris being the letter P crowned. From 1789 we find
no stamp until 1797 : After two ineffectual attempts under
Henry III. and Louis XIII., the duty .known by the name of
" droit de controle" was definitely settled by Louis XIY. in 1672.
The Mint letter of the town surmounted by a fleur de lis, then
attested the payment of the duty.
In 1681, the Fermiers du Controle obtained permission of the
102
King that every work commenced should be impressed with a stamp
called the charge, showing that the goldsmith was indebted or
answerable to them for the payment of this duty. After the piece
was finished and the duty paid, a stamp was impressed called the
discharge, attesting the payment.
Goldsmith's work, therefore, after 1681, ought to have four
stamps —
1. The stamp of the goldsmith.
2. The stamp of the maison commune.
3. The stamp of the charge or duty payable.
4. The stamp of the discharge or duty paid.
For Paris the stamp of the charge of the Fermiers has nearly
always been an A, the mint letter of this city, accompanied by
some change of fashion, when the farming of the duty changed
hands. The stamp of the discharge represented generally the
head of a man, or some animal, changing like the other.
There were various sized stamps for large or small works.
In the Wardrobe Accounts of Edw. I. we have a very early
record of this Hall-mark in the year 1300. (Lib. Gard. Soc.
Ant. 352). " Item, viij. cocleares argenti signata in collo signo
Parisius scilicet, de quan dam flore glegelli" — which may be thus
rendered — Item, eight silver spoons, marked on the neck or stem
with the Paris mark, that is, say a certain fleur de lis.
In the Inventory of the Dukes of Burgundy, 1423, " Pour un
pou avoir amende x marcs ij. ounces xv. esterlins dudit or, estant
a xix. karas, pour faire aultre vaisselle et Favour fait venir a xix.
karas et un quint, qui est or de touche et au dessoubz n'oseroit on
ouvrer."
Again, in the will of Thomas Eotherham, Archbishop of York,
a.d. 1498, are the following allusions to the touches or Hall
marks of Paris, London, and Bruges : — " Item volo quod Thomas
Sentegeorg habeat sex taceas sive Bollezbasse Stantes (standing
low bowls), in fundo tacearum sunt flores tres sunt Paris towch, et
ponderant de Troy LXXI unc'; alias tres sunt London towch, et
ponderant cum coopertor, 0 uncJ de Troy.
" Yolo etiam quod habeat duas ollas argent' wynding chaced,
quarum una et Brugg's towch, altera London est ponderant et
Troy XI. unc." (Lib. Nig. Scacc. Yol. II. p. 676.)
La Croix (Histoire de V orfevrerie) says : — {( The Eevolution of
1789 disorganized all the Trade Guilds and Communities, and
103
the Goldsmiths did not escape the universal shipwreck which
ingulphed at the same time Religion, Royalty, and the Public
fortune. Of what avail could be the Goldsmiths trade in a time
when sceptres and crowns were broken, all the church plate
melted and jewels placed on the altar of the country, when gold
and silver coin was replaced by bell-metal and assignats. The
Goldsmiths' trade could not survive the Monarchy and the
Ecclesiastical power which had given it birth, and under which it
had flourished for fifteen centuries."
From 1789, therefore, little or no attention was paid to the
stamping of plate in France until the passing of the Act of 1797,
so that for a period of nearly eight years, Goldsmiths were allowed
to make whatever quality of gold and silver articles they pleased.
The following extracts are from the Act of the 19th Brumaire,
An YL (19 Nov., 1797), indicating the stamps used on gold and
silver plate in France at that period.
Peeamble. — The Council of Five Hundred, after having heard
the Report of the Commission of Finance, considering that the re-
establishment of the supervision of the guarantee of Standard of
works in gold and silver is necessary to the prosperity of this branch
of National commerce as well for the interior as abroad ; at the
same time that the dues to be collected on these objects are in-
dispensable to the Public Treasury, to contribute, with the other
revenues of the Republic, for the maintenance of various parts of
the service, declare the urgency and take the following resolu-
tion : —
Section I. — Of the Standaeds op Gold and Silvee Woeks.
Art. 1. — All works of gold and silver made in France must be
conformable to the standards prescribed by the law, respectively,
according to their quality.
Art. 2. — The standards or quantity of pure gold or silver con-
tained in each piece, are expressed in thousandths (milliemes).
The old denominations of karats and of deniers to express the
degree of purity of the precious metals being discontinued.
Art. 3. — It is however permitted during one year from this
date to employ in the acts or writings which come under the
observation of any public officer, the ancient terms of "karats and
deniers or their subdivisions, but only immediately following the
number of milliemes which express the true quality of precious
metal.
104
Art. 4. — There are three legal standards for works in gold and
two for silver.
For gold 1st of 0*920 or 22 § karats.
2nd of 0-840 or 20 g karats.
3rd of 0-750 or 18 karats.
For silver 1st of 0-950 or 11 deniers 9 ^ grains.
2nd of 0*800 or 9 deniers 11| grains.
Art. 5. — The remedy (tolerance) for gold is 3 milliemes, and for
silver 5 milliemes.
Art. 6. — The makers may employ at their option any one of the
standards mentioned in Art. 4 for works in gold or silver, what-
ever the size or description of pieces fabricated.
Section II. — Of Punches.
Art. 7. — The guarantee of the standard of works of gold and
silver is assured by punches, they are applied on every piece,
after the assay, conformably to the following rules.
Art. 8. — There are three principal punches to mark gold and
silver works. 1st. That of the maker; 2nd. That of the
standard ; and 3rd, that of the Assay Office {Bureau de garantie).
There are also two little punches, one for small works of gold,
the other for small works of silver, too small to receive the impress
of the three preceding marks.
There is also a particular punch for old pieces of plate called
de hasard.
A second for works coming from abroad.
A third for works covered with gold and silver (double ou plaque).
A fourth called the stamp of verification (recense), which is
applied by public authority, when any doubt arises as to the
genuineness of the standard or of the stamps.
Lastly a particular punch to stamp ingots of refined gold or silver.
Art. 9. — The punch of the maker bears the initial letter of his
name with some symbol, which he can select and have made for
himself, observing the correct forms and proportions, as established
by the administration.
Art. 10. — The standard punches have a stamp of a cock, accom-
panied by one of the Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3, indicating the 1st,
2nd, or 3rd standard fixed in the preceding section. These
punches are uniform throughout the Republic, but each punch
has a particular form, easily distinguished by the eye.
Art. 11. — The punch of every assay office has a characteristic
sign which is determined by the administration. This sign is
105
changed as often as may be considered necessary to prevent the
effect of a theft or unfaithfulness.
Art. 12. — The little punch destined for the small works in gold
has the stamp of a cock's head. That for small pieces of silver,
a fasces or bundle of rods.
Art. 13. — The punch for old work (poincon de vieux) solely to
mark works styled de hasard, represents an axe. That to mark
works coming from abroad contains the letters E. T.
Art. 14. — The punch of each maker de doubli ou de plaqtid has
a particular form determined by the administration. The maker
also indicates on his works, the numeral denoting the quality of
the precious metals employed.
Art. 15. — The punch of verification (recense) is also determined
by the administration, altered according to circumstances.
Art. 16. — The punch to stamp refined gold and silver ingots is
also determined by the administration, and is uniform throughout
France.
Independent of the usual Hall Marks on plate, stamped at the
time of its manufacture, there is frequently seen a diminutive
stamp which has no reference to its origin either of country or
date, or whether it be new or old. This mark is called the jpoingon
de recense, and is placed upon all gold or silver articles either new
or second hand, bought or sold in France.
According to an Ordinance of Louis Philippe, dated 7 April,
1838, this stamp of verification was placed upon all plate, whether
bearing the French hall mark or not, and every other description
of gold or silver works which were at that time in commerce, and
it enacted that all gold and silver works should, within three
months of the date thereof, be taken to the assay office and
stamped according to its standard, as a guarantee of its quality;
we give a translation of this important act, and a plate of the
stamps directed to be used as therein stated.
7-12 April, 1838, Louis Philippe, &c. — Eoyal Ordinance
directing a general verification of the quality of gold and silver
works, and the employment of new punches.
Referring to the clauses 7, 8, and 15 of the act of the 19 Brumaire
An VI, (9th Nov., 1797) and taking into consideration that
numerous seizures have taken place of gold and silver works, in
which the State punches have in a great degree been counter-
feited, and that it is highly important as well, that the public
106
guarantee should be preserved, as to secure the revenues of the
Treasury, to put a stop to the use of false punches; It is
enacted : —
Art. 1. — From and after the 10th May following, a punch of
verification shall be applied on all the works of gold and silver
now existing in commerce, and bearing the impress of the legal
marks.
Art. 2. — From the same date the new punches of standard and
guarantee or assay and the punch of the countermark (of which a
table will be published with this minute,) shall be exclusively
employed in all the assay offices.
Art. 3. — The special punches for watch cases, and other watch-
makers work, decreed by article 2 of the Act of the 19th Sept.,
1821, shall be repealed.
French watches shall be marked with the ordinary punches of
standard and assay. Those coming from abroad shall be marked
with a special punch for imported watches, which shall be applied
in the offices designated by the Act of the 2nd July, 1836.
Art. 4. — The punch of the standard and that of the assay office
shall consist of a single stamp, which shall bear a particular sign
for each office. A punch called the Countermark shall be placed
every decimetre (4 inches) on chains, and other works in gold of
the same class.
Art. 5. — At the expiration of three months from the day when
the new punches are to be used, all merchants, working gold-
smiths, jewellers, watchmakers, cutlers, armourers, cabinet makers,
and all other workmen and merchants dealing in gold and silver
works, shall be compelled to carry to the Assay Office of their
districts, the gold and silver works in their possession, to be
there marked, free of expense, with the punches of verification
and countermark.
Art. 6. — At the expiration of the term fixed for the verification,
the gold and silver works marked with the ancient punches which
shall be found in commerce, without being stamped with the
punch of verification, shall be reputed as unmarked, and the
holders subject to the condemnations decreed by the law.
An appendix to this Act gives a table of the punches of
Standard and Assay, and of Verification, of works in gold and
silver as prescribed by the ordinance ; the designations, forms and
types of these stamps are engraved in the annexed plate, as they
appear on gold and silver, but considerably enlarged.
TABLE OF FRENCH STAMPS
Of Standard and Assay, and of Verification of Gold and Silver works, for
Paris and the Departments, as directed by the Act of 7th April 1838.
| E . T | Stamp for Foreign wares.
Head of a Greek Physician.
Gold. Standard No. £. 0*920.
Paris and Departments.
Head of a Greek Physician.
Gold. Standard No. 2. 0*840.
Paris and Departments.
Head of a Greek Physician.
Gold. Standard No. 3. 0750.
Paris and Departments.
Head of Minerva.
Silver. Standard No. 1. 0*950.
Paris and Departments.
Head of Minerva
Silver. Standard No. 2. o*8oo.
Paris and Departments.
Head of an Eagle.
Gold Assay mark.
Paris.
Head of a Rhinoceros.
Countermark for Gold Chains.
Paris and Departments
Head of a Horse.
Gold Assay mark.
Head of a Wild Boar.
Silver Assay mark.
Paris.
A Crab.
Silver Assay marl
Departments.
A Weevil (Large). '
Guarantee of Standard.
Foreign Gold and Silver.
Paris and Departments.
A Weevil (Small).
Guarantee of Standard.
Foreign Gold and Silver.
Paris and Departments.
A Chimera (Large).
Silver. Watches imported.
Paris and Departments.
A Chimera (Small).
Gold. Watches imported.
Paris and Departments.
Head of a Giraffe.
Gold and Silver.
Stamp of Verification.
Paris and Departments.
Head of a Bull Dog.
Gold and Silver.
Stamp of Verification.
Paris and Departments.
Note. — The dotted lines indicate the forms of the Punches for the Paris Assay Office.
\
107
AN ALPHABETICAL TABLE
OF THE
COMMUNITIES OF GOLDSMITHS IN THE SEVEEAL TOWNS OF FRANCE,
EXISTING PKEVIOUS TO 17^, H
WITH THE DATES OF THEIR FOUNDATION, AND THE EMBLEMS ADOPTED BY THEM
FOB. STAMPING- GOLDSMITH'S WORK.
(From 'Histoire de l'Orfevrerie,' par Paul Lacroix et Ferdinand Sere\ Paris, 1850).
Abbeville
Agen .
Aix . .
Alais
Alen9on
Amiens
Angers .
Angouleme
Apt . .
Aries .
Arras .
Avalon
Avesnes.
Aurillac
Autun .
Auxerre
Bailleul.
Bar le Due . .
Bar sur Aube
Bayonne . . .
Beaucaire . . .
Beaune . . .
Beauvais . . .
Bergues St.Vinox
Besan9on . . .
Beziers ....
Blois ....
Bordeaux . . .
Montreuil, and )
Boulogne . )
Bourg en Bresse.
Bourges . . .
Brest . .
Lesneven .
Landerneau
Caen. . .
Cahors . .
Calais . .
Cambrai
Carcassonne
Castelnaudary
Limoux
Castres
Cbalon s sur Saone
ne . j
iary I
1508. A bee.
1775. The hands of a
watch or clock.
A wheatsheaf.
1775. A bird's wing.
1718. A spider or scor-
pion.
1727. A cross bow.
A battledore.
1719. A calf's head.
A pair of scales.
The head of a crozier.
15 — . A chair.
1743. A cow's head.
1 773. A spade.
A jack boot.
1784. A shoe buckle.
1731. A candlestick.
1731. A pocket compass.
A fish* and a flower.
1763. A loop, or girdle.
1512. A bird cage.f
1776. A cafetiere.
1742. A wine glass.
1609. A fish.
1759. A seal.
1688. A corkscrew.J
1598. A trumpet.
1567. A vase with two
handles.
12—. An unicorn.
1744. A cardinal's hat.
1747. A chain and tassel.
1557. A ram's head.
1695. A ship.
1594. A plough share.
1777. A dog seated.
1748. A spur.
1315. A horse's head.
1676. A ciborium, or
covered cup.
1749. A bell.
1682. A door key.
Chalons sur Marne 1749. A watch key.
Chartres . . . 15 — . A dove flying up-
ward.
Chateau Gonthier 1757. Compasses.
Chateau Thierry. A cock.
Chattellerault
Chatillon .
Chaumout
Clermont .
Cognac
Colmar . .
Compiegne
Coutances .
1758. A penknife, or a
burnisher.
15 — . A castle.
1744. A half moon.
15 — . A tree.
1762. A bolt, or spear
head.
A glove.
1667. A stag's head.
1751. An inkstand.
Daligre, for- ) ,„-0 A
me?lyMarans} 1758-AP°mnSer-
Dieppe
Dijon
Dinan
Dole.
Douai
1599. A flat fish.
15 — . A globe on stand.
1746. An anchor.
A funnel. §
Arms, two cross branches
and a square surmounted
by a crown
1751. An ear of barley
or wheat.
1753. A rugged branch
or sea weed.
A lobster.
1750. A lancet.
1745. A stirrup.
1574. A flambeau.
1757. An arrow.
1754. A branch of yew.
A four-pronged fork.
A dolphin.
Draguignan
Dunkerque
Etampes .
Falaise
Fecamp
Fontenay .
Gien . .
Gisors . .
Grasse . .
Grenoble .
Guise and Vervins 1745. Thehead of a staff.
Havre . .
Joinville .
Issoire . .
Issodoun .
La Charite
Lafere .
Landrecy
Langheac
1 5 — . A lance and flag.
1759. A weatber cock.
1766. An acorn.
1757. A cup.
1757. A holy water
sprinkler.
A pink.
1779. A pointed instru-
ment, or an eraser.
1784. A carpenter's rule.
* The barbel.
f Another mark is also used, displaying the arms of the city.
| In addition to this another mark was used, consisting of two C's back to back, surmounted
by a fleur de lis.
§ A counter mark was also used by this community, two C's back to back, surmounted by a
ducal coronet.
108
Langres
Laon . .
La Bochelle
Laval . .
Le Vigan .
N. D. de Liesse
Lille .
Limoges
Lisieux
Longwy
Lons le Saulnier. 1780. A lamp lighted.
Lorient
Loudun
Lunel . .
Lucon . .
Lyon . .
Macon . .
Manosque .
Le Mans .
Mantes . .
Marennes .
Marseille .
Maubeuge .
Meaux . .
Melle . .
Melun . .
Mende . .
Mezieres .
Metz . .
Milhau . .
Montargis .
Montauban
Montpellier
Morlaix .
Moulins
Nantes . .
Narbonne .
Nevers . .
Nimes . .
Niort . .
Noyon . .
Orleans .
Paris . .
Parthenay
Pau . .
Payrat . .
St. Colombe
Chalabre .
Perigueux
Perpignan
Pezenas
Poitiers .
. 1566. A clasp knife.
. An artichoke.
. 1698. A griffin.
. A frog.
. 1775. A gridiron.
. 1749. A hatchet.
. A bird flying to the right.
. 1719. A porter's basket.
. 1750. A cornucopia.
. A label of 3 points.
or
1745. A fortification
a blazing star.
1646. A lantern.
1775. A fir cone.
1758. A shuttle.
A lion's head.
1600. An open hand.
A closed book.
1757. A flower (tulip).
A lozenge engrailed.
1777. An oyster.
12 — . A bow of ribbon.
An eye.
A cat lying down.
An ear.
1727. An eel.
1767. A butterfly.
1746. A cannon.
1635. A peacock.
1770. A flower (meadow
saffron).
1737. A comb.
1705. A steelyard.
A syphon or chemical
retort.
1607. A square pillar.
1736. The sails of a
windmill.
1759. A spear.
1669. A tobacco pipe.
1757. A bottle.
1586. A porcupine.
15 — . A pipkin.
1748. A shallow pan
1611. Bust of Joan
1260.' The letter P.
crowned.
1745. A flat fish (skate).
A cow.
1753. A pair with three
leaves.
of
A snail.
A rat.
1586. A rake.
A Turk's turban.
Pons en Saintonge 1785. A bee hive.
Pontoise . . . 1752. A pink*
Provins
Puy en Velay
Quimper
Eeims .
Eennes .
Eethel .
Eiez
Eiom
Eochefort
Eodez .
Eouen .
Sables .
Saintes .
St.Esprit, Bagnols
Saint Flour . .
St. Germain enl
Laye . . J
St. Jean d' Angely
Saint L6 . . .
Saint Malo . .
Saint Maixent .
Saint Martin
St. Menehould .
St. Omer . . .
Saint Quentin
Peronne
Salins ....
Saumur . . .
Sedan ....
Semur en Auxois
Senlis .
Sens . .
Soissons
Strasbourg
Tarascon .
Thouars .
Toul . .
Toulon . .
Toulouse .
Tours . .
Trevoux .
Troyes . .
Valenciennes
Valognes . .
Yannes .
Verdun. . . .
Versailles , . .
Vesoul . . .
Vitry le Fran9ais
Uzes ....
1759. The provence rose,
1367. A pulley.
1780. A hand-saw.
1560. A bunch of grapes.
1579. An ape seated.
1660. A quiver of arrows.
A pot with handle.
A cross moline.
1713. A rock.
1777. A vase.f
13 — . A cluster of apples
on a branch.
1680. A sheep passant.
1758. A jewelled clasp.
1777. A magpie or crow
standing.
1785. A squirrel.
A wreath or necklace.
1779. A tooth.
A club.
1680. A hammer.
A fly.
1785. Snuffers.
1742. Watering pot.
A dog passant.
1748. Sword handle.
1640. A boar.
1749. An ewer.
1575. Eadiated head of
Apollo.
1701. Caduceus.
A kidney bean.
1745. A helm & feathers.
1734. A helmet, with
vizor & shoulder piece.
A pear without leaves.J
Open scissors.
1714. Head of Mercury.
1743. Negro's head.
1712. A Eoman chariot.
1500. A trowel.
1529. A parrot.
1783. A vine leaf.
1369. A short staff or
bell pull.
1625. A daisy.
1750. A head of Apollo
to the left.
1745. An open pod or
almond.
1630. Fleur de lis.
1768. A head of a wolf.
1775. A cockade or dou-
ble fan.
1614. A head of a soldier
with cocked hat.
1776. A hawk preparing
to mount.
* This, though similar to the pink of Lafere, is bent to the left, the other to the right,
f As this mark somewhat resembles that of Blois, the name of the town is also marked thus
| That of Payrat has three leaves.
IND
EX.
A.
PAGE
A crowned 93
Abercorn, Marquis, collection 64
Addington, S., collection 31
Alexander, Mrs., collection 59
All Souls' College, Oxford 54, 59
Alloy of gold and silver 3
Alphabetical marks... 11, 12, 45, 53-64,
68-75
Alphabetical table of French town
marks 107-108
Amphora, a mark 97
Amsterdam hall marks 94, 97
Anathema cup 52
Anne, Statute of 43
Antholin, St., collection 60
Antwerp hall marks 96
Apostle spoons 29-31, 53
Aqua f ortis, assay by 100
Arrows at Shrovetide 17
Articuli super cartas 4
Ashford, Dr., collection... 17, 29, 30, 31,
53-64, 93
Assay, account of the 35
Assay, exemptions from 41
Assay marks ...6, 11, 12, 14, 15, 19, 35,
36, 46, 98-110
Assay, method of 4, 24, 25, 100
Assay office letters, Birmingham.. 74
„ „ Chester 68, 69
„ „ Dublin 91, 92
„ „ Edinburgh. ..82, 83
„ „ Exeter 70, 71
„ „ Glasgow 85
„ „ London 46-51
„ „ Newcastle... 72, 73
,, Sheffield 75
Assay weights 32, 34
Augsbourg hall marks 94, 95
Austria hall marks 95
B.
Barber Surgeons' collection 54
Baring, C, collection 59
Barum, a mark 29
Bateman, Lord, coll 64, 66, 67, 90
Bear, a mark 97
Beckett's, Thomas a, cup 52
Belgium hall marks 96
Bell of silver 17
Bergen hall marks . 97
Berne hall marks 94, 97
Biberach hall marks 96
Biel hall marks 96
Birmingham appointed to assay... 21,
22, 43-45
Birmingham assay office letters.. 74
Boar's head, a mark 106
Boileau, Etienne 98
Bond, I., collection 66
Bowes, Sir M., cup 55
Breda hall marks 97
Bremen hall marks 96
Brett, I. W., collection 67
Bristol assay office 8, 15, 19, 24
Bristol Corporation plate ... 57, 60, 66
V AGE
Britannia standard mark 14, 19, 33, 44
Broderers' Company plate 59
Broomfield church 60
Brownlow, Earl, collection 65
Bruges silver 77, 1 02
Brussels hall marks 97
Burgundy hall marks 97
Butler, P., collection 61, 62, 64
C.
Cambridge, Duke, collection 56
Carat defined 32, 34
Carpenters' Company plate 59
Castle, a mark 70, 81, 82, 96
Chaffers, W., collection 29
Charge and Discharge 102
Charles II. cup 62
Chester assay office... 15, 17, 18, 24, 45
Chester assay office letters ...68, 69
Chimera, a mark 106
Christ's Coll., Cambridge...53, 54,56,.58
Christ's Coll., Oxon 54
Chronological list of plate 52-67
Chronological table of marks 43
Church ornaments, gilt 8
Citadel, a mark 96
City or borough mark 7
Cleves hall marks 96
Clifden, Lord, collection 60, 61
Clothworkers' Company plate ...55, 58
Coblenz hall marks 96
Cock, a mark 104
Cock's head, a mark 104
Cockayne cups 58, 59
Coins converted into plate 14
Cologne hall marks 95
Cologne pound 95
Contremarque 99, 106
Convoy described 25
Coope, O. E., collection 67
Coopers' Company plate 61
Corpus Xti Coll., Oxon 53, 57
do. do. Camb 53, 56
Coventry assay office 8
Cozier, W., collection 29, 56, 59
Crab, a mark 106
Crescent, a mark 97
Creyghtouns cup 62
Cross of St. Andrew 28
Crowhurst Church 65, 66
Crowns, three, a mark 95
Cupel, assay by 100
Currency, variations of 34
Cutlers' Company 5, 7
D.
Dagger 96
Dasent, Dr., collection 59
Date marks 45, 81, 90
Dawson, Capt., collection 52
Delft hall marks 97
Derby, Earl, collection 85
Dexter, J. P., collection 55-65
Diet or scrapings for assay 35, 38
Doccum hall marks 94, 97
Dog's head, a mark 106
110
INDEX.
PAGE
Doncaster Corporation plate 61, 65
Dordrecht hall marks 97
Doyle, P., collection 63, 67
Dublin assay office 86-92
Dublin assay letters 91, 92
Dunstan, St 40
Duty, acts relating to 40
Duty, amount paid 42
Duty, imposed and repealed 19-22
Duty, drawback of. 41
Duty mark of King's head... 21, 22, 40,
45, 81, 86, 90
E.
Eagle, a mark 95
Eagle's head, a mark 106
Easton, a mark 29
Ecclesiastical utensils 7
Edinburgh assay letters 82, 83
Edinburgh assay office 76-83
Edward I. Statute 4, 42
Edward III. do 5, 6
Edward IV. do 9, 43
Edward VI. do 9
Elizabeth do 10,11,43
Eresby, Lord Willoughby de, col-
lection .58, 64
Esterling of England 5, 31
Eston, a mark 29
Examples of hall marks 93
Exemptions from assay 41
Exeter ancient marks 28, 29, 93
Exeter assay letters 70, 71
Exeter assay office 15, 16, 25, 28,
45, 70
Exon, a mark ; 29
F.
Fanshawe, J. G., collection 65
Farrer, H., collection 57
Feathers, plume of, a mark 87, 90
Fish, a mark 96
Fleur de lis, a mark... 31, 93, 96, 99-101
Flushing hall marks 97
Foreign hall marks 93
Foreign silver stamped in England 88
Fox's (Bishop) spoons 53
France, hall marks 93, 98, 106-108
Franks, A. "W., collection 53, 57
Frauds of goldsmiths 11, 12, 21, 25,
26, 36, 37
French marks, table of 106
French town marks 107-108
Frere, H. T., collection... 55, 58, 64, 65
G.
Gardner, J. D., collection ...53-56, 61,
63, 64, 94
Garrard, Messrs., collection 57, 63
Geneva (New), assay office 86, 87
George I. Statute 19, 40, 43
George II. do 20, 40, 41, 46
George III. do. ...21, 22, 40, 43, 44
George IV. do 43
Gilt Ecclesiastical utensils 7, 8
Giraffe's head, a mark 106
Glasgow assay office 84
Glasgow assay letters 85
Glynne, Sir S., collection 57
Goding, W., collection 93
PAGE
Gold, quantity assayed 26, 42
Gold, standards of 22, 23, 32, 33,
44 passim
Goldsmiths' Company charters ...5, 7,
9, 10
Goldsmiths' Company, account of 2
Goldsmiths' Company, inspection,
&c 9, 24
Goldsmiths' Company plate 55, 56,
58, 62, 66
Goldsmiths' orders 5, 12, 39, 43
Goldsmiths to strike their marks
13, 35, 38, 39, 46
Goldsmiths to gild silver only ... 8
Goldsmiths to stamp their initials
14, 20, 45
Goldsmiths' marks of French
towns 107-108
Goldsmiths' marks, plate of
(frontispiece) description ... 39
Goldsmiths, news from the 36
Grenville, K. N., collection 58
Greuzenbach hall marks 96
Griffin, a mark 96
H.
Haarlem hall marks 94, 96
Haberdashers' Company plate... 60, 65
Hague hall marks 96
Hainault hall marks 97
Hall marks — England passim
do. France 98-108
do. Ireland 86-92
do. Scotland 81-84
Hall hall marks 96
Hamburg hall marks 96
Hamilton, Duke of, collection ... 94
Hammermen 77
Hancock 24, 67
Harp, a mark 86, 87, 90
Hatchet, a mark 96
Head, G. H., collection 60
Hedon Corporation plate 61, 62
Hennell, D., Warden 24, 25
Henry I. Statute, earliest mention
of the touch 4
Henry III. ditto 3
Henry IV. ditto 7
Henry V. ditto 8
Henry VI. ditto 8, 42
Do. his spoon, boots, &c — 52
Henry VII. Statute 8
Henry VIII. cup 54
Heriot, Geo 78
Hibernia, figure of, a mark 86-90
Holburne, Sir T. W., collection...
58, 59, 61, 63, 67
Holland hall marks 94, 96
Horn, a mark 97
Horse, a mark 96
Horse's head, a mark 106
Horwod, a mark 30
Howard of Corby, collection 52
Hughes, Mr. T., of Chester 18
Hume, Lord, collection 57
Hungary hall marks 31, 96
Hunt and Eoskell, collection ...62, 66
Huth, L., collection 56, 57, 58
INDEX.
Ill
L J.
PAGE
James II, Scots 77
James III, Scots 77
James VI, Scots 77
James VII, Scots 78
Jepson, G., collection 64
Jesus College, Oxon 63
Jewellery exempt from assay, ...20, 41
Innholders' Company plate ...54, 58-62
John's College, Cambridge 59
Ireland 86-92
Ironmongers' Company plate... 54, 64
K.
Karat, the term discontinued 103
Key, a mark 96, 97
Keyserberg hall marks 96
King's head indented 40, 50
King's head duty mark 22 , 40
Knight's spurs 8
Koningsberg hall marks 96
La Croix quoted 102
Lamerie, Paul, maker 65, 66
Leathersellers' Company plate ... 61
Leake, Sir J., cup 64
Legh, Sir T., cup 53
Leigh, C. H., collection 64
Leopard's head mark ...4, 12, 20, 33, 44
Leopard's head crowned... 9, 12, 13, 37
Leroy, P. quoted 99
Letter, Roman 15
Leyden hall marks 98
License to sell plate 21-40
Lincoln assay office 8
Lion passant 11, 12, 20, 33, 44
Lion's head erased 14, 19, 33, 44
Lion rampant 82, 85, 96, 97
London assay letters 46-51
London hall marks 44, 93
Louis XL ordinance 7
Louis, Saint do 100
Louis XIV. do 101
Louis XVI. do 101
Louis Philippe do 105
Lowe, J. F., assay master 18
M.
Maestricht hall marks 97
Magniac, H., collection 56
Manchester, Duke, collection ...64, 94
Mark of the city or borough 7, 15
Mark of the King 6, 7
Marks, provincial 7, 19, 24, 25, 28,
68-75
Marks, fraudulent 27
Marks, uncertain English 29
Marks alike on gold and silver... 32, 43
Marks, alphabetical 11, 12, 45
Marks of assayers 6, 11, 12, 14, 15,
19, 35, 46
Marks, chronological table of 43
Marks of makers ...6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 19,
35, 38, 39, 45, 81, 87
do. do. frontispiece and
description of 39
Marlborough plate 64
Maskell, W., collection 63
Mayence hall marks 94, 95
Mercers' Company plate 53, 61. 63
Merchant Taylors' plate 57, 62,' 93
Meyrick, W., collection 66
Milliemes or thousandths 103
Minerva, head of, a mark 106
Montacute, Earl 6
Morgan, O., collection 28, 58, 59,
62, 64
Moscow hall marks 97
Mostyn, G., collection 66
Mourning rings 41
N.
N as a mark 97
Napier, R., collection 57
Newcastle, arms of 19
Newcastle assay office... 8, 15, 16, 24, 45
Newcastle assay letters 72, 73
Newcastle Corporation plate 63
New Geneva assay office 87, 88
Norwich assay office ...8, 15, 16, 24, 45
Norwich stamp on plate 31
Norwich Corporation plate 58, 59,
65, 66
Nuremberg hall marks 94, 95
O.
Oar of silver 65
Orange hall marks 97
Owen, H., collection 57
Oxford Corporation plate 62
P.
Painters' Company plate 53, 60
Paris and departments, table of
marks 106
Paris touch 4, 5, 99
Paris hall marks 93, 106
Parker, Archbishop 53, 54, 55
Pelican cup 57
Pembroke Coll. plate 52
Petersburg hall marks 94, 97
Physician, head of, a mark......... 106
Pine apple, a mark 95
Plate, chronological list of 52-67
Poincon de Paris 100, 104
Pound weight of Cologne 95
Prague hall marks 96
Prior, M., assayer 24
Provincial marks little known ... 19
Provincial marks 7, 19, 24, 25, 28,
68-75
Provincial offices 4, 5, 16, 19
Prussia hall marks 95
Puncheons of steel 37
Q.
Queen's Coll., Oxon., plate 60-62
Queen, H. M., collection..63, 66, 67, 94
R.
Radcliff, a mark 29, 93
Rainey, L, collection 54, 56, 62
Ratisbon hall marks 96
Ravensberg hall marks 96
Recense, poincon de 104-106
Remedy, what it is 101, 104
Report of Committee 23,26
Revolution, French 102, 103
Rhinoceros head, a mark 1 06
112
INDEX.
PAGB
Kichard II. Statute 6, 7, 42
Bichmond, Countess of 53
Rome hall marks 94, 97
Rose crowned, a mark 31, 93
Rosnel, P., quoted 101
Rothschild, L., coll.... 56, 57, 62, 63, 94
Rushworth. F., assayer 24
Russian plate 95, 96
Rutland, Duke of, plate 57, 63
S.
Saddle, a mark 96
Salf ord museum collection 30
Salisbury assay office 8
Salisbury, Bishop of 4
Sanford, E. A., collection 55
Saxony hall marks 94, 95
Sayers' marks 6, 11, 12, 14, 15, 19
Scasebrick, M., assayer 24
Schaffhausen hall marks 97
Scotch coins, gold 34
Scotland 76-82
Scrapings for assay 35, 38
Search of goldsmiths 9, 10, 37
Sewell, Mr., Newcastle 19
Sheffield assay office 21, 22, 24, 45
Sheffield assay letters 75
Silver, price at the Mint 14
Silver articles liable to assay 41
Silver articles subject to duty 41
Silver for exportation 15, 41
Silver, quantity assayed 26, 42
Silver, standard of.. .3, 5, 11, 14, 15, 19,
24, 31, 32, 44
Skinner, assayer 24
Skinners' Company plate.. .58, 60, 61, 63
Slade, F., collection 93
Smith, M. T., collection 30
Solder, its limit 20
South Kensington Museum. ..29, 31, 52,
60, 63, 67, 93, 94
Spain hall marks 97
Spencer, Earl, collection 62, 64
Spilsbury, silversmith 24
Stag's horns, a mark 95
Stamford, Earl, collection 64, 65
Standard of fineness 3, 11, 14, 15
Standard gold 22 carats .. .32, 33, 81, 88
Standard gold 18 carats ...9, 22, 32, 33,
81, 88
Standard gold, 15, 12 and 9 carats ...23,
33, 88
Standard, new, ordained 14
Standard, old, revived 19
Standard, various ...31, 32, 33, 34, 44,
79, 81, 88
Standard, debased ...11, 31, 33, 44, 88
Standards of Scotland and Ireland
79, 81, 89, 90
Standard of France 98-106
Staniforth, T., collection 30, 31,
53-64, 93
Star, a mark 97
Statutes, table of 1
Statutes, extracts from 3-33, 76, 80
Sterling of England 5, 31
Stirling, W., collection 60, 65, 67
Stopford, W. B., collection 62
PAGB
Stork, a mark 97
Sweden hall marks 97
Swords, a mark 95
Sword and arrow, a mark 96
T.
Table of Statutes 1
Table of assay letters : —
Birmingham 74
Chester 68, 69
Dublin 91, 92
Edindurgh 82, 83
Exeter 70, 71
Glasgow 85
London 47-51
Newcastle 72, 73
Sheffield 75
Table of makers marks (frontis-
piece) 38, 39
Table of variations of standard coins 34
Thistle, a mark 79, 81
Thomas a Becket's cup 52
Touch of Paris 4, 5
Touch stone and needle ...3, 4, 19, 37
Touch warden 38
Tree, fish and bell, a mark 81, 84
Trevelyan, W. C, collection 63
Trial of gold and silver 36
Trinity Coll., Oxon. plate 54
Troy weights 10, 96
U. V.
Verification, stamp of 104-106
Victoria. Statutes. .22, 27, 33, 43, 44, 88
Vintners' Company plate ... 54, 55, 61
Vienna hall marks 94, 95
Unicorn's head, a mark 87, 90
Utrecht hall marks 94, 96
W.
Walrond, I. W., collection 62
Wardrobe accounts 102
Watches and plate exported ... 15, 41
Watch cases exempt from duty ... 40
Watch cases, quantity assayed ... 23
Watch cases, French 106
Watchmakers of New Geneva... 86,87
Waterton, E., collection 94
Watson, I., assay master 22
Wax Chandlers' Company plate... 55
Wedding rings 33
Weevil, a mark 106
Weigher sworn 38
Westminster Abbey plate 62, 63
Westphalia hall marks 96
Wheel, a mark 44
William III. Statute ... 13, 15, 43, 56
William IV. ditto 79
Willoughby, Lord, collection ...58, 64
Winn, C, collection 59
Wolf, a mark 95
Worms hall marks 96
Wurtemburg hall marks 94, 95
X.
X crowned, a mark 28, 29, 93
Y.
Yeds, a mark 29
York assay office 8, 15, 16, 24, 44
York Corporation plate 62
THE END.
DRYDEN PRESS:— J. DAVY AND SONS, 137, LONG ACRE, LONDON.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR,
Third Edition, revised and considerably augmented, price 28s.
arhs atiit Sonograms on Jpotteg aitb ^oralaitt,
OF THE RENAISSANCE AND MODERN PERIODS,
WITH HISTORICAL NOTICES OF EACH MANUFACTORY;
PRECEDED BY
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